Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has firmly denied allegations that he misappropriated state funds to cover personal expenses such as his children's school fees.
In a statement issued by his media officer, Michael Ohiare, Bello rebuffed claims made by Olanipekun Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing them as part of a broader attempt to tarnish his reputation through a public smear campaign rather than legal proceedings. The statement accused Olukoyede of harboring a personal vendetta and misusing his office to attack Bello under the guise of anti-corruption efforts.
The controversy centers around a recent press briefing held by Olukoyede, where he charged that Bello had withdrawn large sums from the Kogi State Government's accounts, converting them through currency exchange services to pay his children’s tuition fees in advance. The EFCC's allegations have stirred significant discussion online, with related documents and receipts circulating widely.
Bello's statement clarified that his children have been attending the American International School in Abuja since before his gubernatorial tenure, emphasizing that tuition payments have been timely and consistent. The statement also refuted the specific amounts cited by the EFCC, stating that no such sums were paid.
Additionally, it was noted that the alleged payments did not coincide with the end of Bello's governorship as claimed but began earlier in 2021. When the EFCC approached the school to seize what it deemed improperly used funds, a legal challenge was mounted by a family member. The case led to a ruling by the FCT High Court, which prevented the school from refunding the fees to the EFCC and affirmed the legality of the original transactions.
Through these clarifications, Yahaya Bello and his team maintain that there has been no recovery of alleged misused funds by the EFCC, and they reserve the right to pursue legal action against what they consider defamatory statements.
The former governor's office stresses that these developments are part of ongoing efforts to ensure the facts are accurately represented and justice is upheld, dismissing the EFCC's charges as unfounded and legally unsubstantiated.
0 Comments