Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, is accused of stealing N80.2 billion through fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said on Wednesday that Bello had mocked the Nigerian legal system by neglecting to appear in court to face his charges.
This was said by Mr. Effa Okim, the acting zonal director of the EFCC for Benin Zonal Command, during a familiarization visit to the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Asaba, the capital of Delta State.
Regarding alleged N80.2 billion fraud, Bello and the EFCC are engaged in an ongoing legal battle.
After multiple attempts to apprehend Bello and his nonattendance at his arraignment, the EFCC declared Bello wanted and the Nigerian Immigration put the governor on a watchlist.
When asked on Wednesday why the EFCC had yet to arrest Bello weeks after he was declared wanted, an irate Okim claimed that the ex-governor was being shielded by the system.
“This is the last question I expected because the shame is on all of us. Is that a question I should answer alone? It’s not me, it is the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the EFCC zonal director said.
“That politically-exposed Yahaya Bello, whose crime has been traced to him by allegation and has been invited by EFCC to come and explain, and for months he is acting drama and we are all here wanting to ask questions! The shame is our own shame!
“Can’t we catch him? We can, but do we go all out to catch him? Do we need to do that when he has his masters? Is it not possible for them to give him a call and inform him that he is embarrassing Nigeria? What are you telling the world? Tell him to go give an explanation, just as others have.
“Where are the ministers? Where are Yahaya Bello’s colleagues, even in his hiding? So, Nigerians can’t tell him ‘This is not fair, go and report; they are not going to kill you’? But people are still eating and dining with him.”
Okim said beyond legality, there was a moral aspect of the case.
“Where has legality trumped morality to the point where we can not call that man and order him to go report himself to the EFCC? While some people are criticizing the commission, others are writing in support of him.
“The issue is one of our own, one that touches on Nigeria’s reputation. Our children are watching their parents behave like children.
“To me, the truth has vanished. Even in Animal Farm, this will not happen, that a man who was part of the system that was a custodian of our culture, rules and laws can behave like this and you are asking questions.
“It is time for the media to unite, condemn that action, and drop the prosecution altogether. Instead, they should urge him to make himself available so that we can proceed with our next course of action.”
Bello’s actions, according to Okim, had made fun of the criminal justice system. “And because we respect the law, we want to go by the process, we are inhibited that does not make us weak,” Okim said.
Churchill Oyowe, the Chairman of the NUJ Delta State Council, gave the commission assurances about the support of the state’s journalists.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
