AfriqueCAN: THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission – EFCC says former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello withdrew $720,000 from the state’s accounts to pay his child’s school fees in advance just before he left office on January 27, 2024 www.AfriqueCAN.com
EFCC boss Ola Olukoyede revealed this information to reporters at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Olukoyede, Bello moved the money from the state coffers to a Bureau de Change operator, and used the money for his child’s school fee in advance.
“A sitting governor, because he knew he was leaving office, moved money directly from the government to Bureau de Change (and) used it to pay his child’s school fee in advance,’’ Olukoyede said.
“Over $720,000 or thereabout, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House. In a poor state like Kogi? And you want me to close my eyes under the guise of ‘I’m being used’. Used by who? At this stage of my life? Used by who?,’’ the EFCC chairman asked rhetorically.
“I didn’t initiate the case; I inherited the case, I called for the case file and I said there are issues here,” he noted.
Olukoyede vowed to follow the prosecution of the ex-governor to a logical conclusion, adding that he will resign as EFCC chairman if Bello is not prosecuted.
He also vowed that those who obstructed the arrest of the former governor would be brought to book.
The EFCC is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion.