The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has sworn to monitor the investigations and probe of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to logical conclusion.
The anti-graft chairman promised to resign as EFCC chairman if Bello is not prosecuted, in a discussion with media at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, all culprits and accomplices will face the law.
The EFCC is seeking to arraign the former Governor on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion.
Olukoyede restated that the commission is determined to sanitise the country, insisting that the EFCC needs the support of Nigerians to succeed.
Meanwhile, the commission, following a Tuesday order by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, has served a copy of the charge sheet of alleged fraud against the immediate past governor on his lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohamed.
However, Bello’s lawyer, Mohammed, initially refuted the charges and proof of evidence, but was compelled to accept it by Justice Nwite.
Additionally, Bello argued that the EFCC was an illegal organisation, highlighting that the Federal Government did not consult the 36 states of the federation before enacting the EFCC Act through the National Assembly.
The former Governor emphasized that under section 12 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the various Houses of Assembly are required to ratify the act before it becomes operational.
Responding to Bello’s arguments, Counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Phinheiro, urged the court to dismiss the application setting aside the warrant of arrest until the defendant makes himself available for trial.
The EFCC had declared the former governor wanted for his consistent absence in court for proceedings and for evading the criminal charges against him.
saharandaily