Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has affirmed that the case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello remains active in court, emphasising that he has fulfilled his role in initiating prosecution.
Yahaya Bello
Olukoyede made this clarification during a Channels TV interview on Sunday, January 11, addressing public concerns over delays in concluding the high-profile matter.
Recall that in April 2024, Olukoyede vowed to resign if he failed to personally oversee the completion of Bello’s investigation, a promise he claims to have honoured by filing multiple charges.
“Have I not made good that promise of commitment? Is Yahaya Bello not being prosecuted? The case is still in court.
“I have three cases against Yahaya Bello. Am I the judge who would determine the conviction? I have done my work,” he stated, urging Nigerians to support the agency’s efforts.
Bello faces a 16-count charge of alleged property fraud worth N110 billion alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, as well as a separate 19-count charge involving N80.2 billion in fraud and money laundering before a Federal High Court.
The EFCC declared him wanted in April 2024 over the N80 billion allegation, highlighting a specific instance where Bello allegedly transferred $720,000 from the Kogi Government account to a bureau de change as advance payment for his child’s school fees just before leaving office. Olukoyede decried the move in a poor state like Kogi, questioning how such actions could be overlooked.
The EFCC boss reiterated that the investigations were thorough, charges filed, and proceedings gaining traction, calling for public encouragement rather than criticism amid ongoing judicial processes.
