A Human Rights Advocate and Public Affairs Commentator, Austin Okai, claims that the recent EFCC lawsuit against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello traces back to 2022 when N20 billion of Kogi State bailout funds were uncovered in Sterling Bank.
He alleges that despite the state government's denial, the EFCC, led by Bawa, took steps to return the money to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Okai asserts that from February 2022 to February 2nd, 2023, during Bawa's tenure, a legal process unfolded resulting in a court order to seize multiple assets owned by Yahaya Bello. These assets, scattered across locations like Dubai and Maitama, were directed to be surrendered to the federal government of Nigeria. Okai claims that the current EFCC Chairman, upon inheriting the case, reviewed its intricacies and notified the former governor of the allegations.
( Photo credit : Arise Television Official Facebook Page )
Speaking to Arise TV, he remarked, "I think some people don't know Yahaya Bello, he's one of the sophisticated governors that you can't just approach. We are all aware of this case. This case started in 2022 when N20Bn of Kogi State bailout fund was found in Sterling bank. The state government denied that money, and the EFCC under Bawa refunded that money back to the CBN.
After that, there was a case that started from February 2022 to the 2nd of February 2023. The same EFCC under Bawa got a court order where so many of his assets including in Dubai, Maitama and so many places were asked to forfeit it to the federal government.t of Nigeria by the EFCC order. As the EFCC Chairman has said, he inherited the case and he called the d on the file. And he told the governor that there was a problem. The court order that the former governor obtained is about his fundamental human right and I'm not aware of any court order that can stop EFCC from investigating a criminal offense.''
Click on the link below and watch the video starting from 10:28 minute mark
https://youtu.be/ZxfViZvL1f0?si=EA8v07RCzucEALTz