Yahaya Bello Allegedly Took $750,000 from Kogi Coffer to Pay His Child School Fee, Says EFCC
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused former Governor Yahaya Bello of withdrawing $750,000 from the coffer of Kogi state government, shortly before he left office.
The agency alleged that Bello used the $750,000 to pay for the school fees of his child in advance.
The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who made this known during a chat with newsmen in his office on Tuesday, alleged that the former governor wired the money through a Bureau de Change operator.
He vowed to resign from office if Yahaya Bello was not prosecuted on the 19 count official corruption charges filed against him.
Olukoyede also said EFCC had frozen 3000 accounts in banks as part of moves to stabilize the foreign exchange market.
He said the accounts were frozen after EFCC uncovered a scheme called peer-t0-peer financing trading scheme, through which over $15 billion passed through in the last one year outside regulatory financial system.
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EFCC Declares Yahaya Bello Wanted Over Alleged N80 Billion Fraud While In Office
The immediate past Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says he is afraid of being arrested by the agency.
Bello said he was ready to appear in court to defend himself against the 19 count charges, including the alleged misappropriation of over N80 billion, levelled by the EFCC.
His counsel, Adeola Adedipe told a federal high court on Tuesday in Abuja, that his client was again absent in court, to avoid being arrested by EFCC operatives.
The council wants the court to revoke the April 19 arrest warrant issued against the former governor.
He also contended that EFCC was an illegal body, because it was created by the federal government with a bill passed by the national assembly without ratification by the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
EFCC counsel Kemi Pinhero, told the court that EFCC would not arrest Bello if his counsel could undertake he would be in court at the next adjourned date.
Besides, Pinhero argued that the constitutional powers of EFCC to prosecute has been settled by the Supreme Court.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned his ruling of Bello’s application till May 10, 2024.
