Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello has been accused of withdrawing $720,000 from the government treasury to pay for his child’s school fees.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, chairman Ola Olukoyede, made this revelation during a chat with journalists in Abuja.
Bello who is currently at large is facing charges of money laundering and misappropriation of public funds brought against him by the EFCC. He has been arraigned in absentia at Federal High Court in Abuja.
“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,” Mr. Olukoyede said.
“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?”
Bello in a bid to avoid prosecution filed a counter suit at a Lokoja High Court urging the EFCC to refrain from harassing him.
But Mr. Olukoyede said Mr. Bello was given the opportunity to come quietly to the EFCC to explain himself, but he played hide and seek.
“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 said, ‘Ha! Thank you, my brother. I know, but I can’t come. There’s one lady that has surrounded EFCC with over 100 people to come and embarrass me and intimitade me.
“I said if that is the issue, I’m going to pass you through my own gate, and you will come to my floor. We will accord you that respect. I will invite my operatives; they will interrogate and interview you in my own office. What could be more honourable than that to allay the fear?
“You know what he said: ‘Thank you, sir, but can’t they come to my village?”
