EFCC boss vows to resign if Yahaya Bello gets away revealing how he used state funds to pay school fees

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Ola Olukoyede has vowed to resign if he fails to bring former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello to justice after revealing the impunity of his corruption that involved using state funds to pay his kids' schoolfees.

Over the last week, the EFCC and the former governor have been involved in a war of attrition after he resisted arrest and has sought to use legal means to prevent the agency from inviting him for questioning. Looking for a way to resolve the matter, Mr Olukoyede phoned Governor Bello and urged him to appear before the commission and address the charges against him but the former governor declined the invitation.

Addressing the media on the matter, Mr Olukoyede revealed that Governor Bello transferred $720,000 from the government’s coffers to a bureau de change before leaving office to pay for his child’s school fees. Governor Bello has since been declared wanted by the EFCC and he remains in hiding, hoping that the case against him will die down with time.

However the EFCC boss is having none of it and has promised to see the matter through. Mr Olukoyede said: “If I do not personally oversee the completion of the investigation regarding Yahaya Bello, I will tender my resignation as the chairman of the EFCC.”

He highlighted the importance of Nigerians supporting the EFCC for its success, emphasising that the agency’s failure would reflect negatively on the country. Also, the EFCC boss pointed to the fact that the agency's ongoing efforts have positively impacted the value of the naira in international money markets.

Earlier today, a federal high court in Abuja ordered the EFCC to serve former Governor Bello through his lawyer. Trial judge, Emeka Nwite, issued the order following Governor Bello’s absence in court this morning, making the second consecutive time the defendant would fail to appear for his scheduled arraignment.

Mr Olukoyede added: “A sitting governor, because he knows he is going, moved money directly from government to bureau de change, used it to pay the child’s school fee in advance, $720,000 in advance, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House. In a poor state like Kogi and you want me to close my eyes to that under the guise of ‘I’m being used.’ Being used by who at this stage of my life?”

He further stated that he personally reached out to Governor Bello, offering him a chance to clarify the situation in a respectful setting within the EFCC office but the ex-governor declined to cooperate, citing fears of harassment from an unnamed woman. Governor

Bello was said to have suggested that the EFCC come to his village rather than conduct an investigation at the agency’s quarters.

Mr Olukoyede said: “I didn’t initiate the case, I inherited the case file. I called for the file and I said there are issues here. On my own, I called him, which I am not supposed to do, just to honour him as an immediate past governor. I said sir, there are issues. I’ve seen this case file. Can you just come let us clarify these issues.

“He said, Ha, thank you, my brother. I know but I can’t come. There’s one lady that has surrounded the EFCC with over 100 people to come and embarrass me and intimidate me. I said if that is the issue, I’m going to pass you through my own gate and you will come to my floor. We will accord you that respect.

"I will invite my operatives who will interrogate and interview you in my own office. What could be more honourable than that to allay the fear? You know what he said? Thank you, sir but can’t they come to my village?"

He also highlighted the agency’s achievements during his tenure, stating, saying they have recovered close to N120bn and secured over 1,600 convictions in six months. Mr Olukoyede said he is passionate about the need for the EFCC to survive.