Months after the Kogi State Government was caught in the web of a N20b salary account scandal, the ghost of the controversy has appeared in the State House of Assembly, where lawmakers invited top government officials for clarification on the subject.
Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Idris Asiru led other officers of the Governor Yahaya Bello administration to the Assembly, where they shed light on the issue that saw the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, compel Sterlin Bank return the money in an account said to be owned by Kogi State government to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
While testifying at the Assembly in Lokoja on Tuesday, the Commissioner said the government does not have a fixed deposit account in Sterlin Bank as alleged by the anti-graft agency.
Other officials in the Assembly today included the State Accountant General, Alhaji Jubril Momoh, State Auditor General; Alhaji Yakubu Okala and other relevant staff from the Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant General. The General Manager of Sterlin Bank was however unable to honour the invitation with valid reason.
Speaking before the Lawmakers, Asiwaju said, “No fixed account was ever opened nor authorised by anyone, neither was there any N20billion kept anywhere. The facility in that sum collected from the bank via the approval of CBN 2019 has since been used for the purpose intended- Salary payment and other overheads”.
He claimed that “as a state, we are known for transparency, accountability and efficiency in funds management as it has become a culture under Governor Yahaya Bello that can not be rubbished in the mud easily. As a Government, Gov. Bello remains upright and our books are there to be checked.
”Kogi state is in the good books of the World Bank and other international partners for openness, transparency and accountability, therefore, no amount of misinformation and mischievous assault can fault the records”.
The Finance Commissioner presented a comprehensive break down/ report to the House about how the N20billion facility was spent adding that the said report was submitted to the house for perusal.
The Assembly members noted that the absent bank Manager was key to understanding facts behind the scandal and resolved to renew their invitation to him.
