‘Embarrassing showdown’, Shekarau berates EFCC over Yahaya Bello’s prosecution

A former governor of Kano, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, has decried the turn of events in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and said the agency should be proactive in its operations.

Shekarau, who spoke on a television programme on Tuesday, said the operational tactics of the EFCC was not supposed to be what it is now, saying it shouldn’t behave like typical Nigerian security agencies that often hide in wait for individuals to commit offences before taking action.

According to the former Kano governor, the EFCC should, instead, “proactively evaluate its methods and adopt more strategic, transparent practices.”

Shekarau specifically noted the current confrontation between the EFCC and former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, saying the development was “embarrassing” and a reflection of the need for the commission to reform its approach.

He said: “EFCC is not supposed to behave like the typical security man in Nigeria – hiding in a corner, waiting for you to commit an offence then jump out to arrest you.

“The commission should look inward and change its mode of operation. The recent drama between the EFCC and the former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello is very embarrassing.”

The EFCC and ex-Governor Yahaya Bello have been in a ding-dong affair over allegations that the former governor was culpable, while Bello has challenged the modus operandi of the EFCC in court.