A group of Kogi indigenes, Confluence Patriots, has commended the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) for its unrelenting efforts to investigate alleged fraud in the state.
In a press statement issued by the executive committee of Confluence Patriots in Abuja on Sunday, the group alleged that a former Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, practically turned the state government account to his personal automated teller machine (ATM).
The statement signed by Abdulwahab Omeiza, Secretary to the Executive Committee, appealed to the leadership of the EFCC to remain focused in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities and not to be distracted by unscrupulous agents of denial sponsored by the former Governor.
The statement said:
“As you already know, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission under its Distinctive Executive Chairman Mr Ola Olukoyede has recorded tremendous successes in the fight against corruption and corrupt persons in Nigeria of which we need not overemphasize at this point as we are neither staff nor spokespersons of the commission but are witnesses to the relentless efforts of the commission to rid Nigeria of Economic and Financial crimes.
“Of specific interest to us is the ongoing investigation and prosecution of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello who was Governor of Kogi State from January 2016 to January 2024.
“Citizens from Kogi State and indeed Nigerians may wish to recall that the administration of Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello as Governor of Kogi State was characterized with all sort of financial irregularities and human right abuses which includes but not limited to the loss of lives and property of innocent citizens of Kogi State who dared to challenge his autocratic regime.
“While we harbor no personal grievances against the Former Governor and without prejudice to the ongoing prosecution at the Federal High Court Abuja, as helpless witnesses to the realities of the past administration of Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello and as citizens of Kogi State, we wish to state the following unequivocally that;
“The budget of Kogi State during the eight (8) years administration of Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello of Kogi State have been nothing more but a fraud perpetuated against the good and amaible people of Kogi state.
“There have been no significant improvement in terms of infrastructural development in Kogi state commensurable with the enormous resources accruing to the state from federal allocation and internal generated revenue in the last eight (8) years of the administration of Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello.
“There have been several financial infractions in the Kogi state account since the last eight (8) years as evidenced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the suit filed against Former Governor Yahaya Bello alongside other respondents to the extent that school fees of his children were been paid from the coffers of Kogi State Government.
“Citizens of the state are now aware from the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on how state resources were converted to dollars and wired into several bank accounts overseas operated by Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello and his cronies.
“We are also aware of several property procured by the former governor and his associates in choice location within Nigeria and overseas using Kogi state resources.
“The illegal sale of Kogi state properties without recourse to due process is one considered by majority of citizens of the state as wickedness of the highest order especially where such properties were under valued and the proceeds of sales not remitted into the state accounts.
“That Former Governor Yahaya Bello during his eight (8) years administration as Governor of Kogi State, practically and tactically turned Kogi State Government Account into his personal ATM card from whence he withdraw billions of Naira for his personal use.
“During the eight (8) years administration of Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, there have been several human right abuses leading to the loss of lives and property of innocent citizens of Kogi state. It is necessary to state here that some political opponents of Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello were either killed or declared missing with their whereabouts still unknown even as this press statement is issued. A good example of this is the burning to death of Mrs Salome Abuh a PDP woman leader and the disappearance of the PDP Party Chairman of Okene who have been missing since the last four (4) years and most recently, the killing of four (4) persons including two serving police officers attached to one Alhaji Sheik Jubril the Social Democratic Party Director General in the 2023 governorship election.
“Based on the aforementioned, we the people of Kogi State stand resolute in solidarity with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in ensuring that every kobo stolen from the Kogi State account is recovered.”
The Confluence Patriots commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his renewed efforts in the fight against corruption and corrupt persons in Nigeria.
They urged EFCC not to be dissuaded by the various antics of the former Governor as he sought to truncate all efforts to bring him and his associates to justice.
