The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olu Olukoyede, has vowed to ensure conclusive investigations into the alleged N80.2 billion fraud case against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, pledging he would otherwise resign from his position.
Olukoyede, who made the attestation during a chat with journalists at the commission’s headquarters, said he would throw in the towel if Bello is not prosecuted.
He disclosed that the embattled former governor withdrew $720,000 from the government account to a Bureau de Change to pay for his child’s school fees in advance.
“If I do not personally oversee the completion of the investigation regarding Yahaya Bello, I will tender my resignation as the EFCC Chairman,” Mr Olukoyede said.
He added that all those who obstructed the arrest of the former governor would be brought to book.
“I’m very passionate about the need for us to move forward in this country.
“A sitting governor moved $720,000 directly from the government account to the Bureau de Change and used it to pay for the school fees of his child in advance in a poor state like Kogi, and you want me close my eyes under the guise that I’m being used. Use by who ? At this stage of my life? By who for crying out loud?
“I didn’t initiate the case, I inherited the case file,” he said.
The EFCC Chairman also said he made a direct phone call to the former governor out of respect, urging him to appear before the commission and address the allegations against him.
He, however, said Bello declined the invitation and rather told the operatives to meet him in his hometown.
“On my own, I put a call across to him, which ordinarily I’m not supposed to do, just to honour him as an immediate past governor,” he said.
The EFCC had declared Bello, who has gone into hiding wanted, following a court order. On Tuesday, lawyers representing Bello in the case instituted against him in Court, said the former Kogi Governor would have presented himself in Court but was afraid of being arrested. This is just as his counsel claimed the EFCC is an illegal organisation.
