How Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello Allegedly Looted N11 Billion

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello has been accused of breach of trust, fraud, money laundry, misappropriation of funds and wanton looting of the treasury of Kogi State to the tune of about NGN 11 Billion alongside with his co-conspirators.

A group in a petition dated, 12^th August, 2016 and submitted to the Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has accused the governor of embezzling the state fund to the tune of N11 billion naira.

The petition titled: PETITION AGAINST GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO OF KOGI STATE, SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND CORPORATE BODIES OVER COMMISSION OF BREACH OF TRUST, FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING, MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AND WANTON  LOOTING OF THE STATE TREASURY, stated thus; “In furtherance of our statutory mandate on the promotion of good-governance, equity, equality, rule of law and justice as well as in line with President Muhammadu Buhari Government’s inspiring hard stance against corrupt practices and financial crimes, we forward herewith our findings detailing commission of offences such as breach of trust, fraud, money laundry, misappropriation of funds and wanton looting of the treasury of Kogi State to the tune of about NGN 11 Billion by the Kogi State Governor, H. E. Alhaji Yahaya Bello and his co-conspirators to wit;

 

1. Edward Onoja, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kogi State.
2. The Commissioner for Works, Kogi State.
3. The Commissioner for Finance, Kogi State.
4. The Permanent Secretary, Government House, Kogi State.
5. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Kogi State.
6. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Kogi State.
7. The Permanent Secretary, Board of Internal Revenue, Kogi State.
8. The Accountant-General, Kogi State.
9. The Director-General, Bureau for Public Procurement, Kogi State.
10. The Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Kogi State.
11. Some Business Outfits.”

According to the petitioners they said; “We wish you to furnish you and your trusted Commission with unassailable facts and figures of how funds meant for the well-being of the government and people of Kogi State are being systematically embezzled and laundered. The State Governor of Kogi State, his officials and cronies committed these corrupt practices and financial crimes through the followings;

 

1. Award of Bogus Contract of the Renovation of 17 Units of Mostly three (3) Bedroom Bungalows (removal of roof and re-painting only)  for a whooping sum of NGN 1.6 Billion awarded to MAJ Global Construction Company Ltd. without tender, contrary to the Public Procurement Act as seen below

 

1. Preliminaries                                                                  N 500,000.00
2. Personal Assistant Residence                                          N 56,831,620.00
3. Permanent Sec. Residence                                              N 55,393,500.00
4. P.S Residence                                                                 N 85,533,500.00
5. D.C Residence                                                                N54,171,150.00
6. Guest House(Aliyu) Residence                                         N 64,005,750.00
7. Accountant General Residence                                         N 64,672,500.00
8. G Protocol Residence                                                       N 53,324,220.00
9. S.O Residence                                                                 N52,916,450.00
10. P Residence                                                                     N 50,557,320.00
11. SSG Residence                                                                N 52,321,470.00
12. Imam’s Residence                                                           N 47,527,670.00

Sub-total                                                                               N 637,757,820.00

Vat 5%                                                                                 N 31,887,801.00

Total for 11 Units                                                                            N669,645,711.00

13. 6Units Office Building (The identities of these 6 units remain hidden )                   N857,010,027.5011

Consultancy Fees                                                                    N40,000,000.00

GRAND TOTAL                                                            N1,566,655,738.50 Billion

The petition which was signed by Comrade Idris Usman and Barr. Olutosin Ojaomo, the Country Director, Nigeria and Legal Secretary respectively stated thus; “We strongly believe that the so called phoney renovation contract was an avenue to steal and launder funds from the commonwealth of Kogi people; Award of bogus contract for the construction of AGASA-UKPOGORO Road to AG Vision Construction Nig. Ltd of which NGN912, 648, 960. 49million hurriedly paid in a day without physical mobilisation to site till date; suspicious money laundering of the sum of NGN87, 500, 000. 00million and NGN91, 500, 000.00million through CGC Construction Company under the guise of payment of contract sum on 22^nd June, 2016 and 1^st August, 2016 respectively; Suspicious money laundering of NGN103, 558, 364.00million through AUWALIYA Global Resources Ltd of the following amount of monies from the same bank and on the same day; NGN37, 694, 144. 00 million, NGN23, 925, 200. 00 million, NGN36, 249, 000.00 million, NGN1, 391, 000. 00 million, NGN2, 191, 520. 00 million, NGN2, 107, 5000. 00 million.

Moreso, it stated that there was suspicious money laundering of the sum of NGN498, 237, 920. 00 million through WEST WOOD MOTORS LTD for a spurious award of contract for vehicles that were not purchased. Curiously, the payments were made same day from the same bank as follows; NGN31, 346, 380. 80 million, NGN31, 346, 380. 80 million, NGN23, 509, 785. 60 million, NGN38, 306,876. 80 million, NGN23, 509, 785. 60 million, NGN38, 306,876. 80 million, NGN23, 509, 785. 60 million, NGN23, 509, 785. 60 million on the 14^th June, 2016; Suspicious money laundering of the sum of NGN395, 103, 737. 13 million through KEFIANO GLOBAL CONCEPTS LTD which payments were made on the 29^th March, 2016 and from the same bank, Zenith Bank as follows; NGN39, 243, 750. 00 million, NGN39, 765, 000. 00 million, NGN37, 765, 000. 00 million, NGN37, 878, 750. 00 million, NGN40, 495, 000. 00 million, NGN141, 393, 365. 99 million (paid in 10^th June, 2016) and NGN60, 562, 871. 00 million (paid in 17^th June, 2016).

Others are Suspicious money laundering and misappropriation of the sum of NGN213, 925, 000. 00 million through curious movement and payment of monies to the Bank Account of the Permanent Secretary and Chairman, Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue respectively;Systematic and wanton misappropriation of hefty sums of monies of which the Kogi Government House Administration Account has been used as conduit pipe to syphon and misappropriate over NGN3 Billion collected in batches of NGN50 Million – NGN6 Million under the cover of “Overhead” to service Government House within 10^th March, 2016 to 5^th April, 2016; Complete and wanton misapplication and looting of the bailout fund of +N20 billion and N10 billion Infrastructure Fund respectively.

According to the group it said that the their requests are as follows; that the EFCC should urgently commence comprehensive investigation into our petition; Promptly beam your searchlights on the Bank accounts of the Kogi State Government, particularly those of Zenith Bank Plc., Access Bank Plc., and Skye Bank Plc; That the personal and company accounts of the Governor of Kogi State, H. E. Yahaya Bello and others mentioned above be investigated with a view to determining the movement of the monies under consideration.

Other things they requested included that the accounts of the contractors and corporate bodies mentioned herein be investigated with a view to determining their levels of culpability; That any individual, or corporate body found culpable should be made to face the laws of the land and That all illicitly acquired monies and properties from the proceeds of the wanton looting of the Kogi State treasury be recovered and returned to Kogi State Government.