By Angela Atabo
Two anti-graft groups have commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for adopting their petition against the “massive misappropriation” of statutory allocations meant for the five local government areas of Kogi State
The groups demanded an immediate and full scale investigation into the 2024/2025 financial dealings of Adavi, Bassa, Dekina, Idah and Yagba East Local Government areas.
African Transparency Initiative (ATI) and Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), made the commendation while speaking with newsmen shortly after adopting the petition in Abuja on Thursday.
Comrade Sola Babalola, Co-leader of ATI, 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.
“After the adoption, we are going to follow through with other processes that are followed. 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 that EFCC will swing into action now to investigate the petition that we have submitted to them to ensure that they act on it. That is very, very important.
“And from our side too, we are going to be closely intimating with EFCC as well, to know the level of work that 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.
According to Otitolaye, 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 centres, and a several lack of basic services.”
Otitolaye alleged that the research findings on the piloted five local governments areas revealed that the total allocation for the five LGAs 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, equivalenting to N11 – N21 billion unaccounted for.
“87 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. NAN
