Don’t allow anybody to use you, Kogi gov tells FECC chair

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello yesterday asked the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, not to allow anybody to use him.

He was reacting to the recent order by the Federal High Court in Lagos for the freezing of the state government’s salary bailout account domiciled in Sterling Bank over an alleged N20bn loan obtained from it.

Addressing reporters in Abuja after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Bello said: “Today, Kogi State is among the first that has published all of our accounts online…I challenge Nigerians to challenge all of those governors to publish that same particular bailout fund utilization and then you’ll be able to judge me whichever way.

“If you’re targeting me because of 2023 is a big mistake, you’ll not be able to get me… For 2023, I still say it is in the hands of God Almighty.

“I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed in him (Bawa) because so far, there’s an allegation, we’ve responded. We’re waiting for their own reaction to our response so far…I’ll continue to urge him, that is Bawa, to continue to do the very wonderful job he has started.

“He shouldn’t allow anybody to use him for whatever reason, and I don’t think he’ll allow anybody to use him for political vendetta. He, as a young man, has a very long way to go just like myself, and we should be able to guide ourselves very well in serving this great country.”

Bello said Kogi was the first Nigerian northern state to be referred to as an oilproducing state, saying he would ensure that proceeds from oil were used to develop other sectors of the economy.

He appealed to Buhari to facilitate completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company before the end of his administration.