By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately commence investigation into the financial dealings of Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The call was prompted by allegations of money laundering running into billions of naira made by an anti-graft body, the Anti-Corruption Network, against the governor.
The opposition party also called on Governor Bello to speak out on the
allegations which included 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 State.
The PDP asserted that the revelations by Anti-Corruption Network explain why the people of Kogi State have been impoverished and why no concrete development has taken place since the emergence of Yahaya Bello as governor.
A statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP reads in part: “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 award of contract to “non-legal persons” as well as “inactive companies” with no
transaction descriptions and due process certification.
“The APC poster boy should answer to revelations by the Anti-Corruption
Network that he laundered over N3.7 billion through one Abdulsalami
Hudu; in addition to billions of naira allegedly laundered through other
individuals including certain Umar Comfort, Jimoh Aminu, Philip Salau,
Bello Ibrahim among others.
“Also, Gov 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 to N129 million respectively.
“It is indeed disheartening that such funds were monies meant for
infrastructural 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.”
The opposition party also urges the EFCC to equally commence investigation on the activities of Governor Yahaya Bello as well as the books of his administration, with a view to prosecuting him immediately he leaves
office at the end of his tenure, if indicted.
The PDP insisted that nobody should be allowed to hide under the cover of
immunity to get away with criminal pillaging of public resources
entrusted into his or her hands.
“It also instructive to state that the immunity clause, as enshrined in
the 1999 Constitution (as amended), does not prohibit the investigation
of a sitting governor or the prosecution of his aides, officials or
cronies, who were used to steal public funds,” the statement concluded.