The EFCC has accused Yahaya Bello of stealing N80.25 billion during his 8-year tenure in office.
The accused is suspected of having looted revenues earned by Kogi State from the federation account and workers’ and market women’s taxes, which were all meant for the Kogi people’s well-being.
With a population of 4.75 million (4,750,115), Kogi State has 950,023 households, with an average of 5 persons per household.
Each household in Kogi State has been robbed of N89,000 worth of benefits if the suspect stole N80.25 billion, as alleged by the EFCC.
It is not just criminal to steal the commonwealth of a state, but it is cruel for a governor to steal N89,000 from poor people who live on N30,000 minimum wage per month.
According to the NBS, 6 out of every 10 persons in Kogi State endure multidimensional poverty as of 2022. This means 2.9 million, or 61.3% of Kogi’s 4.75 million people suffer from the multiple effects of poverty.
These 2.9 million poor people include 500 thousand children ages 0-4, 1.36 million children 0-17, and 1.52 million adults aged 18 and above.
It would not just be criminal for someone to rob these poor ones of their N89,000 worth of benefits. It is inhumane for their governor to be the one stealing from these poor households.
Mr Yahaya Bello is unlikely to fit into this mould of inhuman persons.
It is hoped that the EFCC made an honest mistake. One that any of Nigeria’s honourable courts would help clarify.