From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi state government has denied ownership of 14 properties for which a court order directed for their forfeiture in a statement credited to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
In a swift reaction, the state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo indicated that “The Kogi State Government has no property that can be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria under any guise; it is a campaign of calumny taken too far.”
Mr. Fanwo, urges “Nigerians and the international community to ignore the EFCC media statement as “desperate act of persecution orchestrated by some political interests to malign the person of kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello because of his political antecedents,” Fanwo, added in the statement.
The Commissioner said,
“We want to state clearly here that, from what we have read in the media, not one we witnessed; this is a forfeiture proceeding and the order is an order of interim forfeiture, which gives persons who allegedly own the properties rights to come to court to establish their ownership of the said properties. We will follow through with the courts.”
“The state government thanked Nigerians for standing by what is right and pointing out the mess that had become of the fight against corruption under Bawa’s chairmanship.
“We advise the public to ignore the allegation as latest naked dance in the market square; as the desperate last kicks of a dying horse,” the statement said.