Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared that he will retire if Yahaya Bello, the outgoing governor of Kogi State, is not prosecuted.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, April 23, at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, the director of the anti-graft agency swore that everyone who interfered with the former governor’s detention will face consequences.
Bello was listed as wanted by the EFCC on April 18 in connection with a suspected N80 billion financial crime. Since being listed as wanted, Bello has not yet shown up for his planned arraignments in court.
Olukoyede, the chairman of the EFCC, claimed that he called Bello directly out of respect and asked him to come before the commission to discuss the charges against him. He claimed that the previous governor turned down the invitation, nevertheless.
Bello had challenged the anti-graft agency to show a copy of the invitation letter, denying that he had received one.
Tuesday, Bello charged the commission of disseminating false information in a statement sent through his media office.
“I will tender my resignation as the chairman of the EFCC if I do not personally oversee the completion of the investigation regarding Yahaya Bello,” declared the EFCC chairman.
“I have charged Willie Obiano and Abdulfatah Ahmed, two former governors who have been given bail. Since January, we would have pursued Bello, but we awaited the court order.
“Why not Yahaya Bello, if I can handle Obiano, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and Chief Olu Agunloye, my kinsman?”
Olukoyede further claimed that prior to stepping down, the former governor sent $720,000 from public funds to a bureau de change in order to prepay his child’s tuition.
“Assuming he would be leaving Government House, the sitting governor transferred funds directly from government to bureau de change, where they were utilised to prepay the child’s $720,000 school fee.
Under the pretence that “I’m being used,” you want me to shut my eyes to that in a poor state like Kogi. At this point in my life, I’m being used by who?” the EFCC chairman asked.
