Two anti-graft groups have revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has adopted their petition with a view to investigating the “massive misappropriation” of statutory allocations meant for the five local government areas of Kogi State.
The groups had petition the commission calling for full scale investigation into the 2024/2025 financial dealings of Adavi, Bassa, Dekina, Idah and Yagba East Local Governments.
African Transparency Initiative (ATI) and Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), made this knwon in Abuja on Thursday.
Co-leader of ATI, Comrade Sola Babalola, said “we are very happy that less than one month, we are here, and now back at the EFCC Secretariat to say thank you for adopting that petition.
“What that tells us is that the Commission is very proactive and they are live to the work that they are doing.
“Adopting the petition is not just the end of what we have kick-started a month ago, but it’s part of the process.
“So, we are expecting the EFCC to swing into action now to act on the petition we have submitted to them. That is very, very important.
“And from our side too, we are going to be closely intimating with the EFCC as well, to know the level of work they are doing as per the letter that we submitted to them,” Babalola said.
The groups, led by Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye, had on Nov. 18 submitted the petition at the EFCC Headquarters, Abuja, saying that the Commission has the mandate to investigate and prosecute those found corrupt.
Otitolaye said Kogi state receives billions of naira annually in federal allocations, including Derivation Funds and the Local Government Share of the Federation Account.
“Yet, communities continue to suffer from dilapidated roads, non-functional health centers and a several lack of basic services.”
Otitolaye said findings on the piloted five local government areas revealed that the total allocation for the five LGs for the 2024/2025 fiscal year was N15 – N25 billions.
“Salary and statutory overheads consume only 15 per cent – 26 per cent leaving 74 per cent – 84 per cent, equivalent to N11 – N21 billion unaccounted for.
“Eighty seven per cent of 1,200 residents rate service delivery very poor while 20 per cent describe the councils as non-existent.”
Otitolaye said field verification shows poorly functional primary health centres, zero tarred roads, and only 3 per cent of water projects in place.
