EFCC Reveals How Yahaya Bello Withdrew $720,000 From Kogi Account To Pay Child’s School Fees
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, revealed on Tuesday how a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, transferred $720,000 from the government’s account to a bureau de change before leaving office.
This action was purportedly to pay in advance for his child’s school fee. Olukoyede made this disclosure during an interview with journalists in Abuja.
Olukoyede expressed his dismay, stating, “A sitting governor, because he knows he is going, moved money directly from government to a 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.
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?”
He further mentioned that he personally reached out to Bello, offering him a chance to clarify the situation in a respectful setting within the EFCC office. However, the ex-governor declined to cooperate, citing fears of harassment from an unnamed woman.
Olukoyede elaborated, “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 honor 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 intimidate me.”
Despite offering to accommodate Bello in a respectful environment within the EFCC premises, the former governor insisted that the investigation take place in his village.
Olukoyede emphasized the agency’s accomplishments during his tenure, highlighting the recovery of close to 120 billion and securing over 1,600 convictions in six months.
He expressed his passion for moving the country forward and the importance of the EFCC’s role in providing justice for victims of financial crimes.