The Kogi State Government has insisted that no money was missing from the state’s treasury, stressing that it was used to fund development during the tenure of the immediate past governor, Yahaya Bello.
The state’s Commissioner of Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, said some people with selfish and political undertones hell-bent on tarnishing Bello’s image are using some elements within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to achieve their purpose.
Fanwo said the attempt to join the former governor into an ongoing suit is faulty, mischievous and has no basis.
In a statement he signed, Fanwo said: “The fact that the EFCC, in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN V. 1. Ali Bello 2. Dauda Suleiman, currently pending before Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division further amended the ‘Amended Charge’ to include in the count, the name of 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.
“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 Yahaya Bello is alleged to have committed upon which he has been named in the count is conspiracy to convert N80,246,470,089.88 , 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 Yahaya Bello, they forgot their thinking hammer at home.
“The Count of the offence is most laughable as the election that produced Yahaya Bello, as Governor of Kogi was only conducted in November 2015. Indeed, Captain Idris Wada of the PDP held sway as Governor of Kogi State at the material time until he handed over to Bello on the 27th day of January 2016.”