Fear of journalists prevent me from honouring ant-crimes invitation, Yahaya Bello tells commission

The fear of journalists has been identified as one of the reasons why the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who is facing a criminal charge of N80billion, for avoiding earlier invitation sent to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

Penpushing reports that the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede gave the hint while addressing media executives, explaining that he made personal efforts to invite Bello to respond to investigations regarding his alleged involvement in money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88

The Chairman who spoke with the media executives on Tuesday at the Corporate Headquarters of the commission, explained that he had a telephone conversation with former governor, offering him ample opportunities to present himself for interrogation by investigators of the commission.

Penpushing further reports that Olukoyede said in contrary the runaway former Governor gave excuse that he would not appear, claiming that a certain lady has surrounded the agency complex with battery of journalists to embarrass and intimidate him

“On my honour,  I put a call to him to honour him as a former governor. He said, I can’t come, claiming that a certain lady has surrounded the EFCC with over 100 journalists to embarrass or intimidate him and all that stuff’, the chairman stated.

‘I said if that is your fear, I will make you come directly to my floor.  I will invite my operatives to interrogate you in my own office.  What could be more honourable than that? Do you know what he said? ‘Can’t they come to my village?’  My Director of Investigations also sent a message to him”, he said.

Penpushing also reports that the agency boss said he was worried at the report of larceny available to the commission concerning the former governor, who because he knew he was leaving office he moved money directly from the government’s account to a bureau de change to pay his children’s school fees in advance

‘A sitting governor, because he knew he was going, he moved money directly from the government’s account to a bureau de change to pay his children’s school fees in advance, $7,200, in anticipation that he was going to leave government house”, he said.

Penpushing reports that Olukoyede disclosed that the commission in its bid to ensure the safety and stability of the foreign exchange market, has uncovered a new fraudulent scheme called P to P, peer to peer trading scheme.

The Chairman of the anti-graft agency pointed out that the platform, is operating outside the official banking and financial corridors, with more than 300 accounts linked to it already frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Penpushing further reports that he reaffirmed the commitment of the commission to the economic growth and development of the country, promising that the agency would not relent in the exercise of its mandate, revealing that the commission has recovered more than N120billion from fraudsters within six months and secured more than 1,300 convictions.

The Chairman, however, called on Nigerians to be more dedicated to the nation, insisting that patriotic Nigerians should offer more support to the commission because the its is crucial to the growth and development of Nigeria.

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