The Kogi State Government has demanded an apology from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for dragging the state to a court over an N20bn bailout fund.
EFCC had on Friday withdrawn the matter from the court because it was no longer interested in pursuing it.
The state government had earlier promised to return the money to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
However, speaking with journalists during the presentation of awards to senior journalists that participated in the Governor Yaya Bello, GYB, Essay Competition for Nigeria’s Political and Crime Editors in Lagos, the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, said the apology was imperative.
Fanwo said it was unfortunate that the commission ignored thorough explanations by the state government on the matter but chose to heed allegations from “hired guns.”
The commissioner added that it was unfortunate that the commission chose to believe allegations that it fixed N19 billion out of the money in a new generation bank.
He charged the commission to exhibit professionalism in its affairs, noting, however, that the state government had yet to receive details of the judgement.
Fanwo declared that the state government would address the media after receiving the Certified True Copy of the judgment.
2022 Commonwealth Games: Buhari receives Queen’s Baton relay
The commission withdrew the suit seeking the forfeiture of N20billion bailout funds granted to the Kogi State Government by a new generation bank.
The money, which was meant for the payment of Kogi workers, was alleged to have been domiciled in an interest-yielding account with the bank by officials of the state government.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the order of withdrawal on Friday sequel to a motion filed and argued by EFCC counsel, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, leading Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.
Pinheiro listed six grounds upon which the judge granted the prayer, adding that “the EFCC is a responsible body”.
One of the grounds was that questions resulting in the commencement of the suit had been clarified, and an intention had been shown to return the sum of N19,333,333,333.36 to the CBN
