At the Corporate Headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), addressed media executives regarding efforts to invite Mr. Yahaya Adoza Bello, a former governor of Kogi State, for interrogation regarding alleged involvement in money laundering amounting to N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
Mr. Olukoyede revealed that he personally extended invitations to Mr. Bello, offering ample opportunities for him to respond to the EFCC’s investigations. Despite these efforts, Mr. Bello declined the invitation, citing concerns about purported intimidation tactics involving over 100 journalists allegedly deployed by a certain individual. Mr. Olukoyede, in an attempt to address these concerns, offered a direct interrogation in his office, which Mr. Bello also declined, suggesting instead that EFCC operatives come to his village.
Expressing his concern over reported financial misconduct, Mr. Olukoyede highlighted instances where funds were allegedly diverted from government accounts, including a significant sum directed to a bureau de change for advance payment of his children’s school fees. Additionally, he unveiled the discovery of a fraudulent trading scheme known as P to P (peer to peer), operating outside official banking channels, with over 300 associated accounts already frozen by the EFCC.
Mr. Olukoyede reiterated the EFCC’s dedication to safeguarding the nation’s economic interests, emphasizing the recovery of over N120 billion within six months and the successful prosecution of more than 1,300 cases. He called upon Nigerians to support the EFCC’s mission, stressing its pivotal role in national development and urging patriotic citizens to collaborate in combating financial malfeasance.
In conclusion, Mr. Olukoyede underscored the collective responsibility of all Nigerians in upholding the integrity and prosperity of the nation, asserting that support for the EFCC translates to investment in Nigeria’s future.
