During an interview in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi State, transferred $720,000 from the state’s treasury to a bureau de change before his departure from office. This hefty sum was intended to prepay his child’s school fees.
Olukoyede emphasized the audacity of the act, stating, “A sitting governor, because he knows he is going, moved money directly from government to bureau de change, used it to pay the child’s school fee in advance, $720,000 in advance, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House.”
He further questioned the ethics of such actions, particularly in a financially constrained state like Kogi, asking, “In a poor state like Kogi, and you want me to close my eyes to that under the guise of ‘I’m being used.’ Being used by who at this stage of my life?”
Furthermore, Olukoyede mentioned that he personally extended an invitation to Bello, providing him with an opportunity to address the matter in a respectful environment within the EFCC premises. However, the former governor allegedly declined to cooperate, expressing concerns about potential harassment from an undisclosed individual.
The EFCC chairman elaborated, stating, “I didn’t initiate the case; I inherited the case file. I called for the file, and I said there are issues here. On my own, I called him, which I am not supposed to do, just to honour him as an immediate past governor. ‘Sir, there are issues. I’ve seen this case file. Can you just come let us clarify these issues?’”
“He responded, ‘Ha! Thank you, my brother. I understand, but I cannot come. There’s a woman who has surrounded EFCC with over 100 people to come and embarrass me and intimidate me.’
Bello reportedly proposed that the EFCC conduct its investigation in his village instead of at the agency’s headquarters.
“I offered to personally escort him through my own gate and into my office. We would treat him with respect, and my operatives would conduct the interrogation and interview right there. What could be more dignified than that to alleviate his concerns?
“You know what he said? ‘Thank you, sir, but can’t they come to my village?’” remarked Olukoyede.
The chairman also underscored the agency’s accomplishments during his tenure, asserting, “We have recovered close to 120 billion and secured over 1,600 convictions in six months. I’m deeply committed to the advancement of our nation. The EFCC is crucial for our progress. We’ve brought relief to numerous victims, individuals swindled out of their savings. Every day, we continue to recover funds for these victims.”
According to Peoples Reporters NG, EFCC chairman Olukoyede has pledged to step down from his role if Yahaya Bello is not prosecuted.
