Kogi State Government has raised the alarm over what it described as a desperate attempt by ‘criminals masquerading as politicians’ to tarnish the image of the immediate past governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, the government wondered why the EFCC had, in an amended charge, accused the former governor of diverting Kogi State government’s funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed the position of a governor.
Fanwo said this was not only laughable but also portrayed the EFCC as an agency infested with persons whose intents disagreed with the noble intention of Mr. President to defeat corruption in Nigeria.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, said: “The fact that the EFCC, in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN V. 1. Ali Bello 2. Dauda Suleiman, currently pending before Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division further amended the ‘Amended Charge’ to include in the count, the name of Yahaya Bello, describing him as being “at large”, is ridiculous, laughable and portrays the EFCC as an agency infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of Mr. President to defeat corruption in Nigeria.
“Being ‘at large’ of course means that a person is evading arrest or is on the run and cannot be found after an attempt to arrest. For the sake of clarity, the original charge is against Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, Ali’s associate.
”The offence which Yahaya Bello is alleged to have committed upon which he has been named in the count is conspiracy to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 which offence is said to have occurred on or about September 2015 in Abuja.
“His co-conspirators according to the count are Abdulsalami Hudu (Kogi State Government House cashier) described as being ‘at large’ too, Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman.
“In the EFCC’s desperation to nail Yahaya Bello, they forgot their thinking hammer at home. The Count of the offence is most laughable as the election that produced Yahaya Bello, as Governor of Kogi was only conducted in November 2015”.
