Probe Yahaya Bello Over N3.7bn Fraud Allegation, PDP Tells EFCC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State over an N3.7bn fraud allegation.

In a statement on Wednesday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said asked the EFCC to probe revelations of N3.7 billion money laundering by an anti-graft body, the Anti-Corruption Network.

The party noted that the revelations by Anti-Corruption Network showed that Governor Yahaya Bello has failed to develop the state and has impoverished the state.

The PDP also asked governor Bello to speak up on allegations of shady deals including allegedly “using certain officials of the Kogi State government as well as private individuals and firms to siphon, launder and cart away billions of naira meant for the development of Kogi State.”

The statement read in part: “The APC poster boy should answer to revelations by the Anti-Corruption Network that he laundered over N3.7 billion in addition to billions of naira allegedly laundered through other individuals.

“Governor Yahaya Bello is demanded to provide answers to revelations made by the anti-graft body, which is in the public domain, that he has been laundering billions of naira in several tranches through the award of contract to ‘non-legal persons’ as well as ‘inactive companies’ with no transaction descriptions and due process certification.

“Also, Governor Yahaya Bello should answer to allegations by the Anti-Corruption Network that he siphoned billions of naira through award of contracts, without due process, to Southbridge Integrated Services Limited to the tune of N624 million, in addition to five other companies which allegedly got between N22 million N129 million, respectively.

“It is indeed disheartening that such funds were monies meant for infrastructure development, provision of healthcare, education facilities, road construction, payment of salaries and pension and other benefits, which have been deprived the people since the inception of the Bello administration.

“Against this background, our party calls on the EFCC, under its new leadership, to immediately commence investigation by inviting all those mentioned in the report as well as prosecute any individual or company indicted in the matter.”