The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has promised to resign if Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi state, is not prosecuted. He also stated that all those who obstructed the arrest of the former governor will face prosecution. Olukoyede made these announcements during a press conference and called for support from Nigerians. He emphasized that the commission’s efforts have helped stabilize the naira against the dollar.
Olukoyede, the chairman of the EFCC, announced at a press conference in Abuja that he would ensure that the former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, is prosecuted and the matter is concluded. He also stated that he would resign as the chairman of the anti-graft agency if the former governor escapes prosecution. Channels TV reported that the EFCC boss also announced that all those who participated in obstructing Bello’s arrest would face justice in due course.
The EFCC is preparing to prosecute the former governor on 19 counts of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds worth N80.2 billion. Olukoyode reiterated that he and his team would continue to sanitize Nigeria, regardless of the number of attacks against them. He then called for the support of Nigerians, stating that Nigeria would fail if the commission failed. The chairman of the anti-graft agency also stated that the EFCC’s efforts had helped increase the value of the naira in the forex market.
In response to Justice Emeka Nwite’s order of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, April 23, after Bello failed to appear in court, the EFCC has served a copy of the charge sheet for fraud allegations worth N80bn against Abdulwahab Mohamed, the former governor’s lawyer. The EFCC previously laid a siege at the Abuja home of the former Kogi governor, which was captured in a video inundated with the officers of the anti-graft agency.