EFCC quizzes 2 Kogi govt officials in Abuja

The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently interrogating two Kogi State Government officials at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

It was gathered that the government officials reported at the EFCC office in response to a report that a Federal High Court ordered their arrest.

This was confirmed via a statement issued by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, on Monday, August 5, 2024.

Fanwo noted: “The Kogi State Government can confirm that two of her officials are currently at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja in response to a report that a Federal High Court ordered their arrest. Despite not receiving an official invitation, they decided to voluntarily report at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja.

“We have not been told the specific details about the allegations against them, but it may not be unconnected to the ongoing investigations regarding some present and former Government officials.

“The officials reported as law-abiding citizens of Nigeria to further demonstrate that the Government of Kogi State has nothing to hide and will always open her books to lawful investigations.

Witness: How I received N1bn from Bello’s nephew to renovate houses

“We hope that the EFCC will respond to the patriotic action of the officials by remaining professional in conducting their investigations.

“As a Government, we are always prepared to cooperate with anti-graft agencies to prove our transparency and retain the confidence of our development partners who have consistently given us awards in recognition of our unflinching transparency, accountability and probity.”

The Star reports that the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is facing charges bordering on money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of about N80.2 billion preferred against him by the EFCC.

Bello, in June, sought the transfer of his trial by the anti-graft agency to the Federal High Court in Lokoja, the state capital.

The former governor said he preferred to be arraigned in Lokoja, being the place where the alleged money laundering offence was committed.

He later asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to adjourn, indefinitely, the ongoing case instituted against him by the EFCC.

Bello also asked the court to vacate its arrest order on him, pending the determination of an appeal he filed at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

The Star