How Kogi Governor, Bello, Squandered Over N260 Million ‘Security Vote’ Days After Assuming Office
Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has approved for himself, a total of N260 million as security votes, within days of assumption of office as the governor of the state.
According to recent reports, Yahaya Bello’s first day in office, the Permanent Secretary in the Government House, Ilemona John, initiated a memo titled, “Request For Security Fund”.
In the document, Mr. Bello was requested to approve N15 million his security fund and approved it two days later, January 29.
Other transactions include:
– February 2, the Government House Permanent Secretary raised yet another memo with a fresh request for security fund. This time, the amount was jerked to N20 million and the governor did not waste time as he gave prompt approval for the release of the funds on the same day.
– Release (N5, 000,000, 00) only for the replenishment of your Excellency’s security fund which has just been exhausted and he granted approval immediately.
– February 3, 2016 another request of N20 million for the replenishment of his security fund which has just been exhausted and was approved again.
– on February 8, the Permanent Secretary, again initiated a memo indicating that Mr. Bello’s security fund had yet again been exhausted and sought for an approval for N100 million to be released to “replenish” it and was approved the following day by Governor Yahaya Bello.
The spokesperson to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, he confirmed the spending to Premium Times but said they were necessary.
“It is public knowledge that Kogi State has been contending with serious security breach for the past ten years,” Mr. Fanwo saud.
