The Kogi State Government on Sunday denied ownership of the
N19.3 billion returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Recall that on Friday the EFCC said it returned the sum of
N19.33 billion Kogi salary bailout funds it recovered from a Sterling Bank
account to the CBN.
However, speaking to newsmen on Sunday, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo,
Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, described the claims
as “mischievous, false and politically motivated.”
The state also threatened legal action if the EFCC does not
within 48 hours, retract the statement.
Fanwo explained that Kogi State does not operate a fixed
deposit Sterling Bank account, which had been clarified by the bank in its
letter, dated Sept. 1.
He maintained that the state government has disbursed its
bailout loans since October 2019 and there is no hidden bailout funds/loan’
belonging to Kogi that is capable of being returned to the CBN or frozen by an
order of court.
“The EFCC knows this, which is why it withdrew the suit it
filed in Court on the bailout fund.
“The Kogi government did not also open or operate a Kogi
State salary bailout fixed deposit account, No. 0073572696, where the said
funds were allegedly warehoused and dissipated and now allegedly returned to
the CBN,” NAN quoted him as saying.
Fanwo also challenged the EFCC to provide details of the
fixed deposit account, adding that the development gr was aimed at tarnishing
the rising political image of Gov. Yahaya Bello.
“We further demand an apology published within 48 hours from
today, in one national daily and on all EFCC official and social media
platforms, addressed to the governor and the entire government and people of
Kogi,” he added.
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