The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has reiterated the denial that his government does not maintain a fixed deposit account with bailout funds meant for salary of workers, describing the allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC as a lie.
Bello made the denial in Abuja on Tuesday during an interaction with State House Correspondents after a visit to President Muhammodu Buhari. He said all the salary accounts of his government are intact, insisting he will never touch Kogi’s money.
“No Kogi state government’s salary account is frozen. None whatsoever. None of our accounts is frozen or embargo placed on any of our accounts by EFCC at all.
“I think it’s just a misrepresentation of facts or is a joke taken too far. My Information Commissioner and all those that are concerned with that lies peddled by the EFCC, I think they have responded appropriately.
“And I will urge each and every Nigerian to please go to Kogi state website, all the facts are there.
“The bank has denied that we have such an account. And besides that, the bailout fund that we obtained, we appropriated in line with the agreement and understanding between Kogi state government and the workers.
“And all of these were done and finished in the year 2019. So first, there’s no N20 billion account, or N19 billion, no fixed deposit account. So I don’t know where the lie is coming from.
“I think in the days ahead, you will hear exactly how the matter shall be resolved. That’s why I said that is a joke taken too far.
“I want to believe that either the officials of the EFCC may have misled the commission.
“Remember that we will not just allow this to lie low because Mr President prides on fighting corruption and EFCC is one of the agencies that is being used to fight corruption.”
Bello claimed came into public office with high integrity, and he would be leaving the office with a higher integrity.
“And all of my name that are ringing bell everywhere across the world today, you will know that actually I earned these beautiful names, not because of stealing.
“I will never touch one kobo of Kogi state and I will never allow any of my officials to do so.
“Today, Kogi state is among the first that has published all of our accounts online.
“All of these spendings have been put out there for the whole world to see from bank account, to statements of account, to payroll, all of the documents are all out there. That is transparency.
“I challenge Nigerians to challenge all of those governors to publish the same particular bailout fund utilisation and then you’ll be able to judge me whichever way.”
Bello said he was in the Villa to thank President Buhari for enlisting Kogi as an oil producing State and to further plead for speedy completion of Ajaokuta Steel Complex.
It would be recalled that last week, a Lagos State High Court had granted a motion exparte freezing a Kogi State salary account with Sterling Bank, over allegation of financial misconduct. The EFCC in documents it presented in the court averted that the account was being used to fix about N20b, borrowed for payment of salaries.
