N80.2bn fraud: EFCC chairman vows resignation if Yahaya Bello Isn’t prosecuted

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has vowed to resign as EFCC chairman if embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is not prosecuted.

In a chat with editors at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, on Tuesday, the anti-graft agency chairman swore to follow the prosecution of Mr Bello to the logical conclusion.

He also vowed that all those who obstructed the arrest of the former governor would be brought to justice.

The EFCC is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion.

The agency’s chairman said that no matter what anyone does or the amount of attack against the anti-graft agency, he and his men will not relent in helping to sanitise the country.

Olukoyede noted that the EFCC needs the support of Nigerians to succeed, emphasising that if the agency fails, Nigeria fails. He stated that the efforts made currently have helped the value of the naira and the foreign market.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has served a copy of the charge sheet of alleged fraud to the tune of N80bn against the immediate past governor and his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohamed.

This followed a Tuesday order by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja after Bello’s absence in court.

He was absent from court for his arraignment on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80bn.

The judge relied on sections 384(4) and (5) of the Administrative and Criminal Justice Act 2015, directing the counsel to the immediate past governor to receive a copy of the charge.

The court held that where it had become impossible to effect personal service of a legal process on a defendant, such could be done through substituted means.

Justice Nwite further held that it was clear that the former governor failed to appear in court for his arraignment.