Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello Finally Honours EFCC’s invitation

 Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former governor was declared wanted over allegations of money laundering and other corrupt practices to the tune of N80.2 billion.

In a statement by Ohiare Michael, Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, on Wednesday, Yahaya Bello said the “decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies.”

According to him, he only sought enforcement of his fundamental human rights in order to ensure due process, adding that he is a respecter of the rule of law and constituted authority.

The statement reads in part: “The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. It is important for the former Governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.

“The former Governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development; supports the fight against corruption in the country.

“It is on record that he was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the State work for the people of the State.

He was accompanied to the EFCC Headquarters by high-profile Nigerians.

“It is our hope that the Commission will be as professional as necessary and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Details of his engagement with the operatives of the Anti-Graft Agency will be disclosed later.”

Finally, Yahaya Bello Agrees To Submit Himself

 

Former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Friday, finally agreed to submit himself to the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment on June 13 in the corruption charges against him.

Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed gave the undertaking to Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday shortly after the request for suspension of trial by the defendant was rejected by the court.

The senior lawyer claimed that the former governor was not afraid of arraignment but safety of his life in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja.

He said that the life of his client has been under consistent threats in Abuja, hence, his decision to go underground for safety.

The agreement to submit to court trial was informed by the remarks of Justice Nwite that EFCC as a law abiding body would not do anything against the provisions of the law.

The Judge said that Bello was not the first former governor to be merely invited by the anti-graft agency and would not be the last.

The Judge also said that the charges were based on allegations that have not been proved, adding that the law even presumed any accused person innocent until proven otherwise.

He advised the senior lawyer to prevail on his client to respect the law and order of court as a law abiding person.

Bello’s lawyer in response to the admonition, thanked the Judge for the hint, adding that with the assurance that the EFCC would not do anything untoward, the former governor would be brought to court.

“All my client needs is just an assurance for the safety of his life which has been under threat for some time in Abuja,” he said.

The lawyer requested for four weeks to bring his client before the court.

Based on the undertaking and no opposition from the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Justice Nwite fixed June 13 for Bello to appear in court for his plea to be taken.

EFCC Drags Ex-Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello To Court Over Alleged N80bn Fraud

 

The anti-graft agency slammed the former Governor with the charges and dragged him to court just a few days after he handed over power on January 27, 2024.

It is understood that the allegation of corruption for which Bello was dragged to court is not a fresh one, but the EFCC simply amended existing charges in which his nephew and an associate were accused of diverting Kogi State funds, and added the former governor as a co-defendant with some few additional counts.

Bello, in the amended case, was accused of converting the total sum of N80.2 billion (N80,246,470,089.88) belonging to the Kogi State Government to personal use. An alleged co-conspirator, Abdulsalami Hud (Kogi State Government House Cashier), was described as being at large. The other two are are his co-defendants – Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman.

However, reacting to the development, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement yesterday, condemned the EFCC’s action against the former Governor.

He added that the EFCC, in its desperation, described Bello as ‘at large’, which is totally wrong as it gave the impression the former Governor was evading arrest or could not be found.

Fanwo said the allegation of the EFCC against Bello “is ridiculous, laughable and portrays the EFCC as an agency infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of Mr. President to defeat corruption in Nigeria.”

“Being ‘at large’ of course means that a person is evading arrest or is on the run and cannot be found after an attempt to arrest,” the statement stated.

“In the EFCC’s desperation to nail H.E Yahaya Bello, they forgot their thinking hammer at home.”

Yahaya Bello Beats Tinubu, Others To Buy N100m APC Presidential Forms

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Tuesday beats the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other presidential aspirants the platform of the party to obtain the N100 million presidential Expression of Interest and  Nomination forms to contest the 2023 presidential election.

The governor paid for the N100 million forms on Tuesday morning, making him the first to officially seal his aspiration to the office of the President in 2023, a statement by Director, Media and Publicity, Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation, Yemi Kolapo, said.

The governor had declared his presidential ambition at the Eagle Square in Abuja on April 2, 2022.

He is contesting despite the agitation for zoning of the office to the South. Bello hails from the North Central where the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, also comes from.

Kolapo in a statement said, “With the payment for the forms, Governor Bello’s teeming supporters should rest assured that he will be on the ballot in the 2023 presidential race. We are highly encouraged by the number of APC Governors, leaders and stakeholders who have demonstrated their strong support for the candidacy of our principal. We reiterate that he is not known for betrayal. He is always very loyal to his own and his priorities have always been Nigeria.

“Though the race officially begins now, it is on record that Governor Bello has consistently been at the forefront of the contest. He has demonstrated this again by being the first to pay for the forms.

“We urge delegates and indeed all Nigerians to shun divisive narratives in the interest of the nation and choose the best of the lot. We have no doubt that our tested and trusted National Working Committee members will put the interest of the party and that of Nigeria first in their activities around the process that will throw up the next flag bearer of the APC.”

 

Road To 2023: We Are Giving You 25 Million Votes In 2023 – Igbo Group Promise Yahaya Bello

Political group, Igbo Women Forum, has said it will mobilise at least 25 million votes for Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi in the 2023 Presidential election.

The group stated this in a statement by its president Uju Obi on Sunday in Abuja.

She said to achieve this, the group would be holding “a mother of all rallies in Abuja”, to declare their support for Mr Bello.

While extolling the virtues of the governor, Mrs Obi said that among his priority is Nigeria’s unity and security.

“Bello has shown the capacity to quell the rising tide of terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal vices across the nation.

“Another trait that stands out for the Kogi governor is his national appeal as he is loved by most Nigerians – irrespective of religion, tribe, and ethnicity.

“This isn’t surprising, as Bello has carried everyone along in his government, not minding the usual sentiments,” Mrs Obi said.

Earlier this year, women from Nigeria’s 19 northern states endorsed Mr Bello to run for president in 2023.

The group, under the aegis Yahaya Bello Network (YBN), declared their support when they visited Mr Bello at the Kogi Governor’s Lodge, in Abuja.

Even Day Old Baby Knows You’re A Disgrace To Youths As Kogi Governor – Bola Tinubu’s Supporters Slam Yahaya Bello Over His Comment

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has been slammed by a support group for the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu for asking him to drop his 2023 presidential ambition.

Bello’s suggestion attracted the outrage of the Tinubu Support Group which said Bello’s poor performance as governor was a betrayal of the Not-too-Young-to-Run campaign.

This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Your failure in governance has betrayed the Not-too-young-to-Run Campaign-TSG replies Yahaya Bello,’ which was signed by the Director- General of the TSG, Umar Ibrahim, in Abuja, on Sunday

The statement read, “All Nigerians can attest to the fact that Governor Bello of Kogi State is a disgrace to the Not-too-Young-to-Run campaign. How do we commit a great nation such as Nigeria to a so-called youthful governor who was given an opportunity to lead his state and he messed things up?

“It is on record that you, Governor Bello, remains the governor with the highest number of months of unpaid salaries, and nonperformance despite the huge sums of both internal and federally-generated revenues.

“We advise that you channel all your efforts into begging and praying for forgiveness for all the sufferings you have inflicted on the good people of Kogi state rather than eyeing the presidency.”

The group described Tinubu as the most qualified and competent candidate to succeed Buhari.

The outrage trails a recent interview Bello had in which he advised Tinubu to allow a youth to emerge as president.

Bello said the former Lagos State governor should take a back seat and allow youths he has groomed to rule Nigeria.

He, however, noted that though the APC National Leader has the right to contest in 2023, he should step back and allow the youths.

Bello stressed that Nigeria is not a Banana Republic that one or two persons can see as their personal properties.

He was quoted as saying: “Senator Tinubu is one of our leaders and I respect him so much. He has played a very significant role in Nigeria’s democracy and has built a lot of people.

“He has paid his dues, and with all respect, as a son to him, my simple advice is that it is time for him to allow his children to take over the mantle of leadership and do it to the glory of God and his admiration.

“He should see that those children he raised are now doing well. Let him see how we manage this country in his lifetime.

“However, he has a right to run, nobody is questioning that.

“Let me tell you that Nigeria is not a banana republic, which a committee of one or two persons will see as a personal estate or property.”