– Bello pays unofficial visit to ministries in Kogi state
– Source claims Governor Bello was astounded by what he discovered in the ministry of commerce and industry
– Moses Atakpa, the head of service in the state, sent on a 30-day compulsory leave
An unscheduled visit by Governor Yahaya Bello to some ministries in Kogi state paved way for some shocking revelations on Thursday, March 17.
It was learnt that on Governor Bello’s visit to the ministries, a multi-billion naira fraud in the ministry of commerce and industry was discovered.
According to a source who spoke to The Nation on the condition of anonymity, the fraud is in connection with the Kogi state/CBN MSME which was allegedly diverted by some top directors in the ministry.

The source said: “Governor Bello was astounded by the discovery.
“The governor immediately directed the acting permanent secretary of the Ministry to turn in a comprehensive report on the fund.
“He also asked the ministry to collaborate with the office of the accountant general of the state for thorough investigation.
“Alhaji Yahaya Bello promised to get to the roots of the fraud, assuring that he was ready to prosecute anyone found wanting in the MSMEgate.
“He reiterated the determination of his administration to root out corruption from the civil service, saying his administration will not spare anyone who has constituted himself or herself to a drain pipe in the state.”
Shortly after, Moses Atakpa, the head of service in the state, was sent on a 30-day compulsory leave.
Governor Bello was sworn in on Wednesday, January 27. While delivering his inauguration speech at the confluence stadium, Lokoja, he promised to pay the state civil servants their salaries soon.
A few days after his inauguration, Bello dissolved the boards of the state’s parastatals and agencies. He directed the chairmen and directors-general of the affected agencies to hand over government’s property in their possession to the most senior officers.

na 2day?