Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede on Tuesday said ex-governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, transferred $720,000 from the government’s coffers to a bureau de change to pay for his child’s school fees in advance.
“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,” Olukoyede said at a press briefing in Abuja.
The EFCC has been unable to arrest Bello to face trial for alleged fraud of over N80 billion despite getting a warrant of arrest. The former governor accused the anti-graft agency of violating an order by Kogi State High Court not to arrest him pending determination of a suit.
Speaking further, 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?”
Olukoyede further stated that he personally reached out to Bello, offering him a chance to clarify the situation in a respectful setting within the EFCC office but the ex-governor reportedly declined to cooperate, citing fears of harassment from an unnamed woman.
The EFCC boss added, “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? Olukoyede added.
