A social political group from Kogi State under the aegis of Progressives Mandate Movement PMM has thrown its weight behind the petition submitted to the anti-graft body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC by the leadership of Anti-corruption Networks, detailing the allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption against Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello
It would be recalled that Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye, an indigene of Kogi State, had last week submitted the petition titled “Petition against Governor Yahaya Bello for financial recklessness, corruption, money laundering and fraudulent application of Kogi State’s resources”, on behalf of anti-corruption networks a non governmental organisation.
The group however declared that Governor Bello has allegedly received over of N300 billion from the Federation Account in the last 5 years without reasonable or tangible achievement to show for it.
In a statement issued by its Chairman, Comrade Musa Enejo Stephens, in Lokoja yesterday, the group urged the EFCC to expedite action on the investigation into the alleged financial management of the State under Governor Yahaya Bello administration, alleging that Mr. Bello has committed financial crimes against the people of the State.
According to him, “Yahaya Bello’s government has blindfolded the people of the State with series of lies since all this while on the allocation accrued to the State from Federation Account and as well mismanaged the huge resources accrued to the State which is against the spirit of openness, fairness, justice and accountability promised the people by All Progressives Congress APC led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari government .
“Gov Bello has plunged Kogi State into debt regime which the State may not recover from, in the next ten years and Mr. Governor failed to give tangible explanations on how funds from federation account like; State allocation, Local Government, Allocation, Paris Refund, Bailouts Funds and Internally Generated Revenue accrued to the State and other” he queried.
Stephens charge the newly appointed EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa to prove himself to Nigerians by commencing and expedite action by prosecuting those involved in the act of money laundering.
He threatened that if the anti grafts agencies failed in their duty to act and do justice on behalf of Kogi people, the group has no other options than to mobilise the people from the 21 local government areas to the headquarters of the commission in Abuja and stage a protest.
He said Kogi State is now the new ATM for political jobbers of all sorts,
Saying all manner of characters troop to the state in number to declare support for governor Bello delusional ambition to become President.
He said presently, the state meagre resources is now being spend on governor Bello presidential ambition on media advertorial including print media, electronics, outdoor billboards across the states even though it’s illegal to do such now which contravene the electoral acts.
The chairman commended the minister of FCT Abuja and Kano state governor for ordering the removal of such billboards in their domain