N80.2bn Fraud: Kogi Central Senator Hails EFCC, Says Ex-Gov Bello Not Above Law

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central senatorial district of Kogi State, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has lauded ongoing efforts by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to apprehend and prosecute the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, over an alleged N80.2billion fraud.

She also commended the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for ceding 14 properties that were initially forfeited to the Federal Government to the Government and people of the State.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasised the need for the EFCC to investigate other corrupt public officials to avoid the impression that their actions against Bello were merely witch-hunting.

The lawmaker, who expressed surprise at Bello’s excuse for not honouring the EFCC’s invitation, said no one should be above the law.

Recall that in a now-viral video, EFCC chairman had claimed that the former Kogi State governor told him that a female Senator had allegedly gathered journalists to humiliate him anytime he show up at the agency’s Abuja office for interrogation.

“I called Yahaya Bello, as a serving governor, to come to my office to clear himself. I shouldn’t have done that. But he said because a certain Senator had planted over 100 journalists in my office, he would not come.

“I told him that he would be allowed to use my private gate to give him a cover, but he said my men should come to his village to interrogate him,” Olukoyede was heard saying while speaking select journalists about EFCC’s move to arrest Bello.

But, reacting to the development, Senator Natasha, who is the only female Senator from Kogi State, in a statement signed by her chief press secretary (CPS), Arogbonlo Israel, reminded former Governor Bello of the importance of respecting Nigeria’s laws and constitution, given his former position as the chief security officer of Kogi State.

“I was surprised to hear that Yahaya Bello evaded the invitation from the EFCC, despite having served as Kogi’s former chief security officer. As a former governor, he should understand the importance of respecting Nigeria’s laws and constitution.

“It’s a well-known fact that ‘he who comes into equity must come with clean hands’. As such, I advise him to honour the invitation and clear his name while he still has the chance.

“I’d also like to take this moment to appreciate the diligence of the EFCC in handling the case so far. No Nigerian is above the law, and therefore the agency must see this case through to the end if they are to gain the trust of both Nigerians and the international community in the fight against corruption,” the lawmaker stated.