The Kogi State Government has strongly criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its recent allegation that the former governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was involved in an alleged N80 billion fraud.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, the state government dismissed the EFCC’s claims as laughable and accused the commission of colluding with “criminals masquerading as politicians” to tarnish Bello’s reputation.
The government expressed dismay that the EFCC had amended a current charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja in an attempt to prosecute Bello, who left office on January 27.
According to Fanwo, the EFCC’s decision to include Bello’s name in the charge, describing him as being at large, is ridiculous and portrays the agency in a negative light.
He clarified that the original charge was against Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, Ali’s associate, and that the allegation against Yahaya Bello pertains to a conspiracy to convert a total sum of N80,246,470,089.88, allegedly occurring in September 2015 in Abuja.
Fanwo pointed out the absurdity of the allegation, noting that Bello was not governor of Kogi State until January 2016, following the November 2015 election. Therefore, he could not have conspired to convert any money belonging to the state government in September 2015.
The commissioner emphasized that before assuming office as governor, Bello had no financial dealings with the Kogi State Government that would allow him to convert government funds, further discrediting the EFCC’s accusation.
