NewsNigeriaPoliticsEFCC Accuses Yahaya Bello of Diverting $720,000 for Child’s School Fee

Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, is facing accusations of misappropriating state funds after Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleged that Bello withdrew over $720,000 (N774,540,000) from state coffers to pay for his child’s school fees.

Olukoyede made the explosive claim in Abuja on Tuesday during an interactive session with media executives.

The EFCC Chairman said Bello transferred the funds from the state account to the personal account of a Bureau de Change, BDC, agent weeks before he handed over to the newly elected governor Usman Ododo.

“A sitting governor, because he knew he was leaving office, moved money directly from the government to Bureau de Change and used it to pay his child’s school fee in advance. Over $720,000 in anticipation that he was going to leave the government house,” the EFCC boss said.

This development raises serious questions about ex-Governor Bello’s handling of public money during his administration from 2016 to 2024.

The EFCC is investigating Bello on charges of alleged corruption, including money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the former governor are currently unknown, having reportedly fled his home in Abuja last Wednesday when EFCC officers went to arrest him. The agency has since placed him on their wanted list.

The EFCC chairman has pledged to resign if the agency fails to prosecute the former governor, suggesting that the EFCC has gathered substantial evidence and intends to pursue the case.

“If I do not personally oversee the completion of the investigation regarding Yahaya Bello, I will tender my resignation as the EFCC chair,” he said.

“I have arraigned two past governors who have been granted bail now — Willie Obiano and Abdulfatah Ahmed. If I can do Obiano, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Chief Olu Agunloye, my kinsman, why not Yahaya Bello?”