Kogi government asks EFCC to stop political witch-hunt »

…insists no Kogi funds stolen

The Kogi State government has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop the continued political witch-hunt of the state government and its officials through an unrepentant strive to force corruption claims on them.

Speaking on behalf of the government, Mr Kingsley Fanwo noted that the desperation of the EFCC to hastily and for glaring political reasons, hound the immediate past Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on their corruption list was unfortunate and speaks volume on how altruistic leadership is rewarded in our nation. He added that for the records and clarity of doubts Kogi’s funds were not missing and that the EFCC is trying so hard to find what is not missing.

The Commissioner for information and communication narrated that the state government a few years back, witnessed a worrisome trend and torrent of witch-hunt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, unrepentantly striving to force corruption claims on our Government and its officials.

“The Commission started with claims that it discovered a non-existent fund in an alleged Fixed Deposit Account. It eventually shot itself in the foot with a badly scripted skit of conniving with the now discredited Emefiele-led Central Bank to claim the money was returned to the Central Bank. This is the height of witch-hunt and unprovoked attack on the integrity of the Government and People of Kogi State” he mentioned.

He said that the state government wants EFCC to desist from mentioning the name of Kogi State in its ongoing persecution, orchestrated by some political actors in and around the Presidency bent on destroying the image of Alh. Yahaya Bello and Kogi State adding that this ignoble agenda is unknown to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who trusted those people with power with the hope that they will use it judiciously for the greatness of our nation but have unfortunately decided to use the privileges given to them as tools for political vendetta.

He said “The amended charges in which the name of the former Governor was mentioned are false, frivolous, fictitious and far from the truth. They are cooked-up charges that signpost their desperation to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. The intention was to sensationalize the whole scenario and promote a media war against the former Governor and other officials of the Government. We have seen how low EFCC and its paymasters can go in order to pander to the political agenda of those afraid of the rising profile of Alh. Yahaya Bello”.

Mr. Fanwo on behalf of the state government called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order a special probe into what is happening in Kogi State before the EFCC is pushed into being used as a hired gun by political hawks who are acting a selfish and overambitious script adding that the kogi government would continue to support the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government, howbeit, such crusade should be based on the rule of law, purity of conscience and devoid of political scheming.
“We cannot afford to politicize our fight against corruption. We will continue to have faith in the judiciary to protect our name and integrity” he asserted.

The Commissioner said that those who have personal grievances can vent their grievances without dragging the name of Kogi State in the mud as the the Government believes in transparency, accountability and probity in line with the trend from 2016.

He assured the people of the State that nothing will be spared to protect the integrity of the state Government as the current administration would continue to act in a way that Kogites would be respected and the trust of international development partners Would be retained.