The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has reaffirmed his earlier promise to personally see through the prosecution of the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Olukoyede restated his commitment during an interview on
Sunday Politics aired by Channels Television.
“A sitting governor, because he knew he was about to leave
office, moved money directly from government to a bureau de change and used it
to pay his child’s school fees in advance $720,000,” Olukoyede said.
He described the alleged action as disturbing, particularly
in view of the economic condition of Kogi State.
“In a poor state like Kogi, you want me to close my eyes to
that under the excuse that I am being used? Being used by who at this stage of
my life?” he asked.
Olukoyede also recalled a public statement he made in April
2024, when he vowed to resign if Bello was not prosecuted.
“If I do not personally oversee the completion of the
investigation regarding Yahaya Bello, I will tender my resignation as the
chairman of the EFCC,” he had said.
Addressing public concerns over the pace of the case, the
EFCC chairman said the commission had fulfilled its responsibility and that the
matter is now before the courts.
“Have I not fulfilled that promise? Is Yahaya Bello not
being prosecuted? The case is in court,” he said.
He stressed that the EFCC’s role is to investigate and
prosecute, not to determine guilt or secure convictions.
“I have three cases against Yahaya Bello. Am I the judge who
will decide conviction? I have done my work and fulfilled my mandate,”
Olukoyede added.
Bello is currently facing multiple charges before different
courts. He is standing trial on a 16-count charge involving alleged property
fraud amounting to N110 billion, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
In a separate case before the Federal High Court, the former
governor is also facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and money
laundering involving N80.2 billion.
The EFCC had earlier declared Bello wanted in April 2024
over alleged financial crimes estimated at about N80 billion, a development
that sparked widespread political debate.
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