“I Have Fulfilled My Promise”: EFCC Boss Reaffirms Commitment to Yahaya Bello Prosecution
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has declared that he has made good on his 2024 vow to prosecute former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on January 11, 2026, Olukoyede addressed public skepticism regarding the pace of the high-profile case, insisting that the commission has completed its mandate by bringing the matter before the temple of justice.
The EFCC boss provided fresh, startling details regarding the allegations, claiming that Bello moved $720,000 directly from the Kogi State government account to a bureau de change to pay his child’s school fees in advance shortly before leaving office. Olukoyede described the act as “disturbing” given the economic status of the state, asking rhetorically, “In a poor state like Kogi, you want me to close my eyes to that?”
Addressing his previous threat to resign if the investigation was not overseen to completion, Olukoyede stated firmly that the trial is now “gaining traction” in court. He reminded Nigerians that the EFCC’s power is limited to investigation and prosecution, not the final verdict. “Am I the judge who will decide conviction?” he asked, adding, “I have done my work and fulfilled my mandate.”
Currently, Yahaya Bello is battling multiple legal fronts across different courts:
• N110 Billion Property Fraud: A 16-count charge alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
• N80.2 Billion Money Laundering: A 19-count charge before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In recent developments, the Federal High Court has adjourned the N80.2 billion trial until January 29 and 30, 2026, for the continuation of testimony from the prosecution’s seventh witness. The EFCC has also publicly clarified that Bello remains “presumed innocent” until proven guilty, even as the former governor reportedly declared interest in a 2027 senatorial seat.
The EFCC chairman concluded by challenging anyone to find a single blemish in his own public service record, asserting that no one has ever used him to witch-hunt political opponents. As the case moves toward its next hearing in late January, the commission maintains that it has assembled substantial documentary evidence to prove its claims against the former governor.
