23rd April, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede on Tuesday said former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi’s account to pay his child’s school fees abroad in advance.
Olukoyede disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at a news conference, saying that he is so passionate about the need for the nation to move forward.
“A sitting governor (Bello) because he knows he is going moved money directly from government’s account to Bureau De Change to pay his child’s school fees in advance. $720,000 in advance, in anticipation that he is going to leave office in a poor state like Kogi and you want me to close my eyes to that? Under the guise that I am being used? Who is using who? At this my age? By who?
“I assume office here six months ago and I inherited the case file, I called for the case file, and I said there are issues here,” he said.
Olukoyede said he personally called Bello to avail himself for questioning, but said the former governor gave excuses.
“Do you know, on my own, I put a call across to him, just to honour him as a former governor? There are issues, I have seen this case file, he (Bello) said, ‘aah! I thank you my brother, but I can’t come,’ he said one lady, he learnt has surrounded EFCC with hundred journalists to embarrass him.
“And I said okay if that is your fear, I am going to pass you through my door, my special door to come to my floor. ‘I said I will invite my investigators and they will come and interrogate you in my own office,’ what could be more honourable than this? In my own office. ‘He said thank you sir,’ you know what he said? ‘Can they come to my village?’ That is what he told me.”