Governor Yahaya Bello freezes Kogi accounts

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has ordered that all accounts of the state and local government should be frozen with immediate effect.

This was said in a statement released by the Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, on Thursday in Lokoja, the state capital.

The statement read apart:

“No imprest or any form of payment should be made to anyone from Government Account henceforth.

“Standing Orders and Investment Instructions are hereby cancelled forthwith.

"All Kogi State and Local Government Accounts are hereby FROZEN with effect from today, Thursday 22nd November 2003.”

It is unkown the reason behind the decision taken by the Governor. However, this comes following the uproar from Nigerians over the recent budget performance report for the third quarter shared on its government website.

According to the report, it was stated that the Bello-led government spent the sum of N727,818,000 to purchase two Toyota buses for members of the State House of Assembly without approval from the assembly members.

Also, “011200300100 - KOGI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY Members’ 30 Seater two(2) Nos Toyota Bus N80,000,000.00 - N727,818,000.00 - N727,818,000.00,” the document read.

Also, “Consultancy Expenses on Full Automation of Budget Process/Bello Care Financial Solution” has gulped N360,945,179.00 in the last 9 months. 022000100100 - MINISTRY OF FINANCE, BUDGET AND ECONOMIC PLANNING Consultancy Expenses on Full Automation of Budget Process/Bello Care Financial Solution. N450,000,000.00 - N360,945,179.00 80.2%.”

A further check on the report revealed that N951,493,735.24 was spent on honorarium, refreshment, meals and welfare in the first nine months of 2023.

A total N11,281,497.52 was also spent between January and September on burial expenses. The state lawmakers had allocated N64.5 million for such expenses in the budget.