EFCC seals off over 50 houses belonging to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have sealed off over 50 houses across the country belonging to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State as part of an investigation into a N10.2bn ($22.81m) money laundering case.

Governor Bello is being investigated for allegedly siphoning over N10.2bn from the state government account through his nephew, Aliyu Bello and one Abdulsalami Hudu, a government cashier now at large.  Aliyu was arrested and arraigned before Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, by the EFCC on 10 counts bordering on misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N10.2bn.

This is as the hope of many workers and pensioners in the state to mark this year’s Christmas still hangs in the balance, as the civil servants and retirees lament the non-payment of their salaries and pensions by the government. One source within the anti-graft agency, revealed that some of the properties, including a five-bedroom fully detached duplex and 150-room five-star luxury hotel in Kogi and Abuja, respectively, were allegedly acquired with proceeds of the N10bn money laundering fraud.

He added: “Yes, I can authoritatively confirm that properties of the governor, including 50 houses, hotels and others in different locations in the country have been sealed by detectives of the EFCC attached to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering. Some of the properties so far sealed were said to have been allegedly acquired from proceeds of the money siphoned by the governor through his nephew.

"The EFCC is committed to pursuing the case despite the distractions from the governor and his sympathisers and the governor may finally forfeit the property among other consequences if found guilty.”

Meanwhile, workers in Kogi State who shared their pains, expressed disappointment over the government’s inability to pay them their salaries and pensions, leaving them unable to meet their daily needs. Noting that the development has ruined their plans to celebrate the Christmas season with their loved ones, the workers lamented that they have for months been receiving salary payments piecemeal with some getting as little as 20%.