The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, withdrew $720,000 from the state’s coffers to pay for his child’s school fees in advance.
During an interactive session with media executives in Abuja, Olukoyede alleged that Bello transferred funds directly from the state coffers to a bureau de change operator for the purpose of paying his child’s school fees in anticipation of the end of his tenure.
Olukoyede emphasised the impropriety of such actions, saying, “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.
“Over $720,000 in anticipation that he was going to leave the government house. In a poor state like Kogi, you want me to close my eyes under the guise of ‘I’m being used’. Used by who? At this stage of my life.”
He clarified that he inherited the case file concerning the former governor and did not initiate the investigation against Bello.
Earlier in April, EFCC operatives had laid siege to Bello’s residence in Abuja to effect his arrest over alleged involvement in an N80 billion fraud. However, Bello was reportedly rescued by Usman Ododo, the governor of Kogi, when he visited his predecessor’s residence.
Subsequently, the EFCC declared Bello wanted and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) placed him on a watchlist. The anti-graft agency alleged that Bello, along with other individuals, diverted about N80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi government.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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