Group To EFCC, Stop Persecuting Yahaya Bello, Face Professionalism

A pressure group under the aegis of Amalgamated Unions of Concern Kogi Citizens, on Monday, urged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to desist from the political harassment, and persecution of former Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and uphold professionalism.

The group equally called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by calling the commission to order, before the situation got out of hand.

Spokesperson of the group and Kogi State Chairman of the Middle-Belt Forum, Mr David Ehimoni, said on the 18th of September 2024, EFCC officials stormed the state governor’s lodge at Asokoro in Abuja sporadically shooting guns with aim of arresting former governor Yahaya Bello.

“Wednesday precisely, the long ill-scripted battle plan against our dear state reached its crescendo. In an appalling manner, we saw those who were supposed to uphold the laws of the land throwing caution to the wind.”

“The same night, the whole world witnessed a bizarre incident where gun-wielding officials, working on the orders of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), attacked a sitting Governor in an official lodge.”

“EFCC personnel stormed Kogi Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, in the night, shooting sporadically all in a bid to arrest the immediate past Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who had earlier in the day, voluntarily honoured the EFCC invitation.”

“This incident, following a series of crude actions and statements birthed our first question: WHO IS AFTER ALHAJI YAHAYA BELLO”?

“Recall that the Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello rose to stardom without a political god-father. He became Governor of Kogi State against the usual tradition of riding on the backs of godfathers.

He served meritoriously for eight years and bowed out gracefully when the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, took over the reins of leadership in Kogi State. In the course of his service to Kogi State, and Nigeria by extension, he might have stepped on some big toes who now want him out at all cost. These aggrieved vested interests, we believe, are playing the tunes EFCC is dancing to.”

“In the last three years, it has become obvious that the anti-graft agency is in a hurry to persecute Yahaya Bello based on the following inconsistent actions which have exposed the Commission’s mischiefs.”

“The EFCC told the whole world in August 2021 that N20 Billion bailout fund meant for Kogi workers had been diverted into a private account.”

“The commission secured an order of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to freeze Kogi State salary bailout account domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc over a ₦20 billion loan allegedly obtained from the bank.”

“Justice Tijjani Ringim granted the order to freeze the account pending the conclusion of the investigation or possible prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

“However, both the Sterling Bank and the Kogi State Commissioner for Finance debunked EFCC’s claims as the allegations were totally untrue. Instead of admitting its error, EFCC published another falsehood on its official social media pages that the bailout fund had been returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). After Kogi State Government sued EFCC and demanded N35 Billion in damages, the commission quietly withdrew the case in court.”

“On the 5th day of February 2023, in an ongoing trial of other persons in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/22 before Honourable Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, EFCC amended the charge to include in Count 1 thereof, the allegation that Yahaya Bello conspired with others, including a Kogi State Government House Cashier, in September 2015, to convert the sum of N80 Billion. EFCC alleged that Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello stole money from Kogi state government coffers in 2015, a time he had not been in office as Governor.”

“It is disgraceful that the EFCC, which claims to be an expert agency in investigating and prosecuting corruption cases alleged that Yahaya Bello stole a part of N80bn along with others from Kogi State’s coffers in September 2015, months before he was sworn in as governor in January 2016. Having realised its blunder, EFCC reworked the charges to indicate the alleged offence was committed in February 2016, just three weeks after Bello assumed office as Governor.”

Ehimoni further described the action of the anti-graft commission as an obvious desperation to nail Former Governor Yahaya Bello, “the EFCC went on an overdrive, exposing the agency’s mischief.”

While alleging the EFCC for being selective in its operation, Ehimoni has instances of some former governors whom the commission looked away from and refused to prosecute despite petitions of corruption levelled against the ex-governors.

“We are even more worried because these governors have been accused by their successors of having diverted billions of naira when they held sway. Matawalle’s successor even appeared on national television that over 400 billion naira was diverted and that they had drawn the attention of EFCC to the issue. Yet, EFCC turned deaf ears to these cries. Conversely, Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State has never declared at any time that Kogi money is missing. Yet, EFCC is pursuing Bello as if his governor had reported him.”

“Recall that on 24th May 2022, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission declared the then Rivers State Accountant-General, Fubara Similayi, and 58 others wanted for alleged N435 billion fraud.”

“His boss and Governor, Wike was not declared wanted because he had immunity covering him. Today, Wike does not have immunity but EFCC has not invited him for questioning. Rather, he serves as a minister in the same government under which EFCC operates.”

“The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State was arraigned at a Kano state High Court along his wife and son on April 17, 2024, by the state anti-graft agency over alleged misappropriation of funds when he was Governor. Neither himself, wife nor son appeared before the court to defend the allegations, yet EFCC turned the other eye.”

“With the above case studies involving former Governors, we are convinced that some persons somewhere are desperate to destroy Yahaya Bello using the EFCC.”

“In spite of these instances of selective justice, on Wednesday, 18th September 2024, Former Governor Yahaya Bello decided to honour the commission’s invitation and went to the EFCC headquarters voluntarily. Information at our disposal confirms that Bello spent over four hours at EFCC premises with pictures and video evidence to prove this.”

“The man who was purportedly declared wanted went to the EFCC office and he was not even granted an audience let alone interrogated or taken into custody. In a shocking turn of events, EFCC mobilized armed men and laid a siege on the Kogi Governor’s Lodge in a night raid.”

The group therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to the aid of the Kogi people.

“The same Former Governor Yahaya Bello made sacrifices and challenged vested interests by insisting on the APC Presidential primary election to elect an APC candidate in 2023. Without this primary election, Mr President might not have been President today based on conspiracies against his candidature.”

“The President should come to our aid in ensuring that professionalism is applied to the prosecution of Former Governor Yahaya Bello, instead of the ongoing persecution as we have noticed the hands of Jacob and Voice of Esau in the scheme of things,” the group spokesperson added.