EFCC quizzes another ex-PDP gov over N700m campaign fund

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday grilled former immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Ramalan Yero, at its office in the state.

The anti-graft agency, which often has been accused of witch-hunting the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its anti-corruption fights, is currently prosecuting a number of former governors of the former ruling party.

Yero, who may soon join former state governors of his party like, Ibrahim Shema, Katsina; Sanusi Lamido, Jigawa; Jonah Jang, Plateau; Gabriel Suswam, Benue, among others, arrived Kaduna EFCC office around 9:05am and was on the commission’s hot seat till about 1:35pm.

The former governor who appreciated his supporters, who in their solidarity, gathered outside the commission’s office and urged them to go to the mosques for Juma’at prayer, refused to say anything to newsmen when approached for comments.

Meanwhile, Yero’s media aide, Yakubu Lere, explained to newsmen that the former governor was summoned by the EFCC in connection with the N700 million campaign funds released to the state by the PDP headquarters in 2015.

According to his spokesman, Yero was also invited to the EFCC office in Kano two years ago over the same issue and was granted administrative bail.

He added, “At that time, he explained during the interrogation that the N700 million was PDP money sent to him as the then governor of Kaduna State to finance 2015 general election with instructions, which he judiciously followed.

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“What they are holding against him was that he kept the money in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, instead of in a bank.

“Even last week, he was here on the same issue; but as you can see, he came out smiling, meaning the commission has found nothing to hold against him for now.”

 

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