The unfolding case between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Kogi State government over the alleged diversion of N80 billion by the immediate past governor, Yahaha Bello calls for less drama and sober reflection.
According to reports, the anti-graft agency in an “amended charge accused the former governor of diverting N80 billion in September 2015.”
In the amended charge, Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, and his associate, Dauda Suleiman, the two defendants in the case, were accused of conspiring with Bello to convert the total sum of N80.2 billion (N80,246,470,089.88) belonging to Kogi State Government to personal use.
The commission also named in the count an alleged co-conspirator, Abdulsalami Hud, (Kogi State Government House Cashier), who it described as being “at large.”
EFCC financial oversight in Kogi state predates the administration of the current Executive Chairman, Mr Ola Olukeyede, but the content of the current allegation by the anti-graft agency gives the impression that there was no case submission in the first place when the allegations started in 2022. How? The answer is in the date of the alleged diversion of the N80.2 billion and the amendment of the charges.
On the surface, the charges look retroactive but on a closer, harder look, they fall apart. For one, former Governor Yahaya Bello was sworn into office on January 27, 2016.
In fact, he emerged the All Progressives Congress, candidate for the previous year’s supplementary election after the death of the party’s candidate, Abubakar Audu on November 22, 2015. The deceased Audu won the APC primary election and Bello was the first runner-up.
These incontestable facts lead us to raise the question how a governor who assumed office on January 27, 2016 is being accused of diversion of funds in September 2015, a clear five months before he was sworn into office.
This crucial lapse in the allegation is not only questionable but creates doubts about the real intention of the EFCC and leaves room for inference by discerning minds.
We recall that it was on the basis of the clear gap in the accusation that made some Civil Society Organisations to question the motive of the EFCC.
According to them, to quote relevant portions of their long, but informed piece,” A court document at our disposal submitted to the court by the EFCC is alleging that the former governor (Yahaya Bello) and his nephew, one Alli Bello, converted Kogi State’s money to the tune of over eighty billion Naira since September 2015!
“This look like a hurriedly prepared amendment targeted at an individual without paying much attention whatsoever to facts. Except the Commission is able to prove before the court that the duo had been involved in financial transactions with the Kogi State money before Yahaya Bello assumed office in January 2016 as Kogi Governor, then they have a lot of questions to answer.”
We find this a well-thought out advocacy for the accused just like that of the state government which has earlier referenced a court suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the EFCC.
According to the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, who cited the aforementioned suit with number FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2020:FRN V. I Ali Bello 2. Dauda Suleiman, currently pending before Honourable Justice K.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the “original charge is against Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, Ali’s associate.”
Obviously, the amended suit, appears targeted at Bello. Explaining this curious development, newspaper reports say the rising profile of the former state governor, who once indicated interest to aspire for the presidency in 2022, coupled with his perceived ambition to become APC National Chairman, has stirred envy among varied interest seeking to paint him dirty before President Bola Tinibu.
Whatever the permutations and observations there are, we think the anti-graft agency should not be seen or heard to be a willing tool in the persecution of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
As an anti-graft agency which pledged recently to deepen the fight against corruption in the country, it must bestir itself of any form of ambiguity in the execution of its mandate. That is the only way it can avoid sending the wrong signals to the public about its image. And in its fight against corruption, perception is everything.
This amendment of the charges against Governor Yahaya Bello to when he was yet to be sworn into office is untenable and paints the Commission in bad light.
