EFCC: Kogi Raises the Alarm over Attempt to Tarnish Bello’s Image

•Witness falls ill testifying against ex-governor’s cousin

Alex Enumah in Abuja and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Kogi State Government has raised the alarm over alleged desperate attempt by “criminals masquerading as politicians” to tarnish the image of former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a related development, a witness of the EFCC, Rabiu Musa, yesterday, suddenly took ill, while giving evidence in the trial of Ali Bello, Bello’s cousin and Dauda Suleiman.

However, the Kogi State government said, in its desperation, the EFCC had in an amended charge, accused Bello of diverting Kogi State Government funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed the position of a governor.

It said this was not only laughable but portrayed the EFCC as an agency populated by persons whose intents disagreed with the noble intention of President Bola Tinubu to defeat corruption in Nigeria.

This  was contained in a  statement signed by the Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo.

“The fact that the EFCC, in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN V. 1. Ali Bello 2. Dauda Suleiman, currently pending before Honorable Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division further amended the ‘Amended Charge’ to include in the count, the name of  former governor Yahaya Bello, describing him as being “at large” is ridiculous, laughable and portrays the EFCC as an agency infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of Mr. President to defeat corruption in Nigeria.

“Being ‘at large’ of course means that a person is evading arrest or is on the run and cannot be found after an attempt to arrest. For the sake of clarity, the original charge is against Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, Ali’s associate.

“The offence which Yahaya Bello is alleged to have committed upon which he has been named in the count is conspiracy to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo) which offence is said to have occurred on or about September 2015 in Abuja.

“His co-conspirators according to the Count are Abdulsalami Hudu (Kogi State Government House Cashier) described as being ‘at large’ too, Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman. In the EFCC’s desperation to nail H.E Yahaya Bello, they forgot their thinking hammer at home.

“The Count of the offence is most laughable as the election that produced  Yahaya Bello as Governor of Kogi was only conducted in November 2015. Indeed, Captain Idris Wada of the PDP held sway as Governor of Kogi State at the material time until he handed over to Yahaya Bello on the 27th day of January 2016.

“Yahaya Bello could therefore not have as of September 2015 conspired with anyone, including Abdulsalami Hudu, a Kogi Government House Cashier to convert any money belonging to the Kogi State Government.”

Meanwhile, a witness of the EFCC, Rabiu Musa, suddenly took ill yesterday, while giving evidence in the trial of Bello Suleiman.

The duo are standing trial before Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on a 10-count charge bordering on misappropriation and money laundering of funds belonging to Kogi State.

At the resumed trial yesterday, the prosecution called its third witness, Musa, who claimed to be a bureau de change operator, based in Abuja.

The witness while being led in evidence by the prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, tendered two record books containing financial dealings of his business.

Although he claimed to be familiar with the defendants, he however said he could not recall details of his relationship with them.

He, however, denied knowing one Hudu’s driver whose name was contained in one of the record books tendered by the prosecution, which was marked as Exhibit G.

The witness, who said he could not speak English and could neither read nor write, testified through an interpreter, who translated his testimony in Hausa to English.

Midway into his testimony, the witness suddenly became uncomfortable, prompting the judge, Justice James Omotosho, to ask what the problem was.

Responding, Musa said he was feeling unwell and had developed high blood pressure, following which the judge asked again if he needed time.

At a point, the judge asked an official of the court to get water for the witness, and a bottle of water was brought for him.

The witness drank from the bottle and later requested that he be given some time, request which the judge granted.

The judge said he should use the time to attend to his health and familiarise himself with the transactions that he said his boys recorded for him in the tendered record books.

Justice Omotosho then adjourned till February 13, 22 and 23 for continuation of trial.