For the sake of poor civil servants in Kogi State who have been wallowing in poverty, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should investigate the utilization of the entire N50.8 billion bailout funds accessed by the Government, activist, Comrade Austin Usman Okai has charged.
Okai spoke against the backdrop of an announcement by EFCC that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has acknowledged the receipt of the sum of N19,333,333,333.36 recovered by the commission from the Kogi State salary bail-out account domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc on Friday.
The immediate past PDP Government under Captain Idris Wada had applied for the N50.8b bailout to cover for the Balance of percentage salaries owed local Government workers and two months’ salary owed State workers then but due to political exigencies the administration could not secure the bail out.
However, when Wada lost out in the 2015 Governorship election to the APC led Government the said bailout was released in batches of N30b first and later the N20b.
The activist said the latest development confirmed his stance that financial activities of Yahaya Bello-led Kogi government are synonymous, if not worse than ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ cartel.
“This development has exposed the wickedness and ineptitude of Yahaya Adoza Bello towards the civil servants and the entire population of the state.
“The action of EFCC has vindicated my consistent beliefs on how the state resources are being squandered by the Yahaya Bello led administration. Governor Bello should be preparing for his days in court after the expiration of his immunity shield in 2023.
“Yahaya Bello has refused to spare a moment of thought for civil servants who have done everything humanly possible to remain peaceful amidst despicable working conditions. It is unfortunate that salaries of civil servants are kept away to foster his unrealistic Presidential bid.
“Very many of us have been battered, shattered and humiliated by security operatives who were desperate to silence us at all cost and to create a conducive environment for the looting of the state treasury. This poses serious threats on our lives, yet, we resolved to stand and defend what is right without considering whose ox is gored.
“As we speak, I am still standing trial for speaking out against the massive looting of the state resources. So many of us are still receiving death threats for speaking out against abuse of governance in the state, these we do because we believe in what Kogi State can be,” he said.
Okai also urged EFCC to dig deeper, as he alleged that the Paris Club refunds, statutory allocations and other borrowing are being squandered on Yahaya Bello expensive lifestyle and presidential ambition.
Hmmmn..