The Kogi State Government has vehemently refuted allegations made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Governor Yahaya Bello, urging the agency to clarify its prosecution motives and affirming the absence of missing state funds.
In an amended charge filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the EFCC included Bello, along with his nephew and current Chief of Staff, Alli Bello, and Dauda Sulaiman, accusing them of diverting N100 billion of state funds in September 2015.
Reacting to these accusations, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, denounced the charges as politically motivated. Fanwo attributed the amended charges to “political actors around the presidency,” alleging a deliberate attempt to besmirch the former governor’s reputation.
Fanwo emphasized, “The amended charges in which the name of the former governor was mentioned are false, frivolous, fictitious and far from the truth.” He asserted that the charges were concocted to sensationalize the situation and wage a media war against Bello and other government officials.
Expressing concern over the alleged politicization of the EFCC’s actions, the state government called upon President Bola Tinubu to initiate a special probe into the commission’s activities within the state. Fanwo reaffirmed the state’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and probity, aligning with the principles upheld since 2016.
The Kogi State Government’s strong stance against the EFCC’s allegations underscores a growing tension between the agency and state authorities. As the controversy unfolds, questions linger regarding the integrity of the legal process and the motives driving the accusations against the former governor and his associates.