The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted claims circulating in the media about a purported list of 58 former governors under investigation for alleged corruption.
In a statement on Sunday, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale dismissed the reports as false and misleading, labeling the list as a “disingenuous fabrication.”
He emphasized that the commission had neither issued nor discussed such a list with any news outlet.
“The report headlined: ‘EFCC Releases Full List of 58 Ex-Governors that Embezzled N2.187 Trillion’… is false and mischievous,” the statement read.
Oyewale urged the public to disregard the report, emphasizing its falsity and urging media practitioners to verify facts directly with the commission to prevent disseminating inaccurate information.
Despite the denial of the alleged list, the EFCC continues its investigations into allegations of corruption against several former governors. Among them is former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, facing charges of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds amounting to N80.2 billion.
According to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, Bello is accused of withdrawing $720,000 from state coffers to pay his child’s school fees in advance before leaving office in January 2024.
“A sitting governor, because he knew he was leaving office, moved money directly from the government to Bureau de Change (and) used it to pay his child’s school fee in advance,” Olukoyede stated during a briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The EFCC Chairman emphasized his commitment to pursuing cases of corruption diligently, rejecting allegations of being influenced and underscoring his responsibility to address such matters.