On Wednesday, 18th September, 2024 former governor of Kogi State,Yahaya Bello voluntarily appeared at the EFCC’s Office after the Anti graft had invited him on fraud allegations leveled against him.
The visit was imperative for the former Governor to honour EFCC’s invitation and clear his name.
The former Governor, who had, through this action, shown respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had, all the while, only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
Reports say the case against Yahaya Bello had been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and the former Kogi Governor had been represented by his legal team at every hearing.
After the news broke out with image backing it up, the EFCC swiftly reacted claiming that Yahaya Bello was not in its custody.
The commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said that Bello remains wanted with a subsisting warrant of arrest.
He said, “Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
The action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) towards Yahaya Bello, is unacceptable.
It was however reported that the commission failed to interrogate him, only to later surround the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja, firing gunshots in an attempt to forcefully arrest him.
Also in a counter reaction, Yahaya Bello’s camp claimed that rather than being interrogated, he was told to leave and return later.
This scenario was captured in another statement by Yahaya Bello Media Office on Wednesday evening titled: Former Governor Yahaya Bello leaves EFCC, yet to be interrogated.
Details of the press release indicated that, “The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.”
The drama surrounding Yahaya Bello’s invitation has raised concerns among Stakeholders and Nigerians on how professional EFCC is in handling the case.
It is surprising that EFCC operatives stormed the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja same day, to arrest the same man who had voluntarily honoured their invitation and made himself available for questioning but was asked to leave.
This drastic turn of events raises serious concerns about the EFCC’s motives and commitment to upholding the rule of law.
It has also put to question on the capacity and ability of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede to fight corruption on behalf of the federal government.
Reacting, The Campaign for Democracy (CD) called for the resignation of EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, citing a lack of capacity to hold the office. It’s clear that the EFCC’s actions are no longer about fighting corruption but about pursuing a political agenda.
CD also maintained that the EFCC has ulterior motive on Yahaya Bello, not fighting corruption.
The Civil Society Organization in Nigeria, said it was unimaginable that the former governor, who the same EFCC had placed on watchlist, who the Commission enlisted security agencies in Nigeria and Interpol to help fish out, walked into the EFCC premises, waited for about three hours and no arrest or interrogation happened.
It further states that “Instead, they told him to go, that they would get back to him only to issue a laughable statement that he was still a wanted man,” the President, Campaign for Democracy, Comrade Ifeanyi Odili, said in a statement on Thursday.
We believe that the EFCC should do more by discharging its duty without victimizing whoever it tagged as suspect. Fighting Corruption is a serious business and not for witch-hunting.
The Anti graft commission should explain in details why it failed to question him but allow Yahaya Bello leave its office when he came last Wednesday.
It is unreasonable to hear the EFCC’s excuse that its officials couldn’t arrest Bello because a sitting governor accompanied him to their office.
It is also a condemnable action for the EFCC to later visit the official residence of the same governor in Abuja, firing gunshots, displaying a blatant disregard for the law and democratic principles. It is simply an act of Victimisation and the commission with huge responsibility of fighting corruption should desist from Victimising Nigerians under the pretence of fighting corruption. Nigerians expect accountability and transparency from the EFCC.
EFCC must return to its mandate of fighting corruption, rather than Victimising Nigerians without cause.
It is on record that Yahaya Bello was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the State work for the people of the State.
We are hopeful that the Commission will be as professional as necessary and respect Yahaya Bello’s fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
