Kogi tackles the EFCC over the controversial N20bn loot

On Sunday, the Kogi State Government requested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission release the findings of its investigation into the alleged N20 billion bailout funds, over which a Lagos High Court reportedly froze the state’s account in August.

It claimed that the alleged sum of N19,333,333.36, which Sterling Bank had promised to transfer to the Central Bank of Nigeria, did not belong to the Kogi State Government and that the state had not entered into any agreement with Sterling Bank or the EFCC to return any bailout funds to the CBN, as claimed.

On Friday, the EFCC dropped its lawsuit seeking the forfeiture of N20 billion in bailout funds.

Following a motion filed and argued by EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, representing Rotimi Oyedepo, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the order of withdrawal.

The government, on the other hand, fought back against the EFCC’s panic withdrawal, challenging the anti-graft agency to make its investigation into the alleged bailout funds public.

The state government accused the EFCC of hiding inalienable facts and embarking on a face-saving mission with its statement on the withdrawal, according to Kingsley Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication.

Fanwo also urged Nigerians to question the EFCC about a portion of the bailout fund that was said to have been misappropriated.

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“It is our belief that the EFCC’s unceremonious withdrawal of the suit without informing the court of the facts is a deliberate and face-saving effort by the EFCC, which has engaged in very unprofessional and unethical conduct throughout this episode, all in a bid to ‘nail’ the Kogi State Government at all costs and tarnish its image,” he said.

“It is our belief that the EFCC’s unceremonious withdrawal of the suit without informing the court of the facts stated in paragraph 3 above is a deliberate and face-saving effort by the EFCC, which has engaged in very unprofessional and unethical conduct throughout this episode, all in a bid to ‘nail’ the Kogi State Government at all costs and tarnish its image.”

“While we reserve all of our legal rights against the EFCC, we reiterate our demand for an unqualified apology from the EFCC, as stated in our September 6, 2021 letter to the chairman of the EFCC.” We hope the EFCC will comply with the demand as a first step toward redemption as it attempts to reclaim Nigerians’ trust and repair its rapidly deteriorating image.”