EFCC chairman insists investigations are complete and trials now rest with the courts, amid public scrutiny over alleged N190bn fraud cases against former Kogi governor.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has firmly defended the commission’s handling of the high-profile prosecution of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, insisting that he has kept his word to ensure the ex-governor is brought before the courts.

Speaking during an interview aired on Sunday, Olukoyede revisited a public commitment he made in April 2024, when he vowed to personally oversee Bello’s prosecution and stated he would resign if the former governor was not brought to justice. According to him, that promise has now been fully honoured.

“At that time, I said if I do not personally supervise the conclusion of the investigation into Yahaya Bello, I would resign as EFCC chairman,” Olukoyede recalled. “Have I not fulfilled that promise? Is Yahaya Bello not being prosecuted? The matter is already in court.”

Responding to public concerns over the perceived slow pace of the trials, the EFCC boss stressed that the commission has completed its investigative and prosecutorial responsibilities, noting that the cases are now entirely within the jurisdiction of the judiciary.

Olukoyede also disclosed details from the investigation that he described as deeply disturbing. He alleged that a sitting governor, fully aware that his tenure was nearing its end, transferred public funds directly from government accounts to a bureau de change to prepay $720,000 in overseas school fees for his child.

Describing the allegation as shocking, Olukoyede questioned how such actions could be ignored, particularly given Kogi State’s economic realities. “In a poor state like Kogi, should I look the other way and pretend nothing happened under the excuse that I am being used? Used by who at this stage of my life?” he asked.

The EFCC chairman further clarified the limits of his role, emphasising that the commission does not determine guilt or innocence. “I have three cases against Yahaya Bello. Am I the judge who will decide whether he is convicted or not? I have done my work and fulfilled my mandate,” he stated.

Yahaya Bello is currently facing multiple criminal charges before different courts. In one case, he is standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged property fraud amounting to N110 billion, alongside co-defendants Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.

In another case before the Federal High Court, the former governor is facing a 19-count charge related to alleged fraud and money laundering involving N80.2 billion.

The EFCC had declared Bello wanted in April 2024 over alleged financial crimes estimated at about N80 billion, a development that sparked intense political controversy and nationwide debate.

As the trials extend into 2026, Olukoyede reiterated the EFCC’s commitment to the rule of law, maintaining that while the commission prosecutes cases, the final determination of guilt or innocence rests solely with the courts. The cases continue to attract significant public attention, reigniting broader conversations around corruption, accountability, and the prosecution of politically exposed persons in Nigeria.

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