The Kogi State Government has issued a statement expressing concern over what it labels as a concerted effort by individuals posing as politicians to smear the reputation of the former Governor of Kogi State, HE Yahaya Bello. 

The government accuses these individuals of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for their own selfish motives.

According to a statement released by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the state government asserts that the recent actions of the EFCC, particularly in amending charges against HE Yahaya Bello, are baseless and reflect poorly on the agency’s commitment to combating corruption.

The state government highlights that the amended charge alleges diversion of Kogi State Government funds by HE Yahaya Bello in September 2015, months before assuming office as Governor. The government finds this accusation both incredulous and indicative of ulterior motives within the EFCC.

The statement clarifies that the original charge pertains to Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, with the recent addition of HE Yahaya Bello and Abdulsalami Hudu, described as ‘at large.’ It refutes the feasibility of HE Yahaya Bello’s involvement in the alleged conspiracy due to the timeline, noting that he assumed office after the supposed incident.

Furthermore, the government questions the credibility of the EFCC’s leadership and urges the President to intervene, emphasizing the need to uphold the agency’s integrity and prevent its manipulation for political agendas.

“The fact that the EFCC, in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN V. 1. Ali Bello 2. Dauda Suleiman, currently pending before Honorable Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division further amended the ‘Amended Charge’ to include in the count the name of H.E 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 H.E 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 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty-Nine Naira, Eighty-Eight Kobo) 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 H.E Yahaya Bello, they forgot their thinking hammer at home.

“The Count of the offence is most laughable as the election that produced H.E Yahaya Bello, CON, as Governor of Kogi was only conducted in November 2015. Indeed, H.E. Captain Idris Wada of the PDP held sway as Governor of Kogi State at the material time until he handed over to H.E Yahaya Bello on the 27th day of January 2016.

“H.E Yahaya Bello could, therefore, not have as of September 2015 conspired with anyone, including Abdulsalami Hudu, a Kogi Government House Cashier, to convert any money belonging to the Kogi State Government. It is to be noted that H.E Yahaya Bello before becoming the Governor of Kogi State had no financial dealings with the Kogi State Government which could have permitted him to convert monies belonging to the Kogi State Government, hence, one’s dismay at the allegation.”

The state government warned political actors to steer clear of Kogi State affairs and desist from their campaign of calumny “as the state government has not said its money is missing and has been adjudged, both locally and internationally, as tops in the area of transparency and accountability,” the statement read.