The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday called on q former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to focus on clearing his name of the allegations leveled against him, rather than accusing the commission of persecution.
The EFCC has filed 19 charges against the former governor, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.
After multiple failed attempts to arrest and arraign him, the EFCC declared the former governor wanted in April.
Bello turned himself in on September 18 but was allowed to leave the EFCC premises.
The EFCC later laid siege to the Kogi State Government Lodge, Abuja to arrest him, but his successor, Usman Ododo, was reported to have taken Bello away.
Following the incident, several groups and individuals, including members of the Kogi State House of Assembly, accused the Olukoyede-led EFCC of attempting to assassinate both Bello and Ododo by allegedly firing gunshots during the attempt to arrest the former governor in Abuja.
In response, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement said the allegations were unsuccessful attempts aimed at ensuring Bello’s trial didn’t proceed.
He denied the alleged assassination attempt, stating that such claims were meant to smear the EFCC’s image.
Oyewale said, “It is public knowledge that a former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello had made several unsuccessful attempts to throw spanners in his ongoing trial through some irresponsible and utterly rascally efforts.
“The appropriate place of surrender would be before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, before whom his legal team had undertaken to produce him to answer to the 18-count charges of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“Yahaya Bello should be more interested in clearing his name than playing the victim and crying persecution, where none exists. To even insinuate that he was the target of a phantom assassination attempt because the EFCC made efforts to effect his arrest at the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge where he had been hiding, is preposterous. It is the first time in the Commission’s more than two decades existence that such a jejune claim would be made. This is no more than scaremongering, intended to scandalise the commission.”
Oyewale said the EFCC would not be discouraged by the “shenanigans” of the ex-governor.
He said, “But EFCC is not deterred by this, and other shenanigans by the ex-governor. The Commission remains committed to ensuring that the law takes its course in the money laundering charges already filed against Yahaya Bello in Court.
“EFCC is eager to engage the former governor in the courtroom where the avalanche of evidence so painstakingly assembled can be presented and arguments marshalled for justice to be served to all parties involved in this saga.
“The true test of Yahaya Bello’s willingness to abide by the law in the criminal proceedings instituted against him at the Federal High Court Abuja by the EFCC, is to present himself to the court in obedience to the order of Justice Nwite. His presence in court is the only step that will convince Nigerians that his touted submission to the EFCC which was widely reported in the media on September 18, was not a stunt.”
Oyewale noted that the EFCC was compelled to tactically reject his offer to surrender because it was scripted with other ulterior motives unknown to the public.
He said, “ Till date, Bello is yet to take his plea in the alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges preferred against him before Justice Nwite. His invasion of the corporate headquarters of the Commission with a retinue of security details, hand-to-hand cahoots and carriage with a sitting governor having immunity, unwarranted media blitz, scripted sleight of hands unknown to the public and other backend intelligence available to the Commission, compelled a tactical rebuff of his touted surrender offer.
“The incident of Wednesday, September 18, 2024, regarding the orchestrated antics of the former governor to surrender himself to the EFCC, having denied being invited by the Commission and operating underground as a fugitive for several months, expectedly raised concerns and curiosity of many Nigerians who had been waiting frantically for his arrest and trial.”
Oyewale said Bello must have his day in court, no matter the recourse to blackmail or public sympathy.
He said, “ As a responsible anti-graft agency, the EFCC is sensitive to public opinions, especially if they are in tandem with its operational codes and Standard Operating Procedures. However, no hysteria, blackmail, sentiment, or coordinated attacks in some section of the media would make the Commission compromise its integrity.
“Yahaya Bello’s matter cannot define the success or failure of the works of the EFCC, as the scorecard of the Commission is remarkable and undeniably impressive. The EFCC is not unaware of the fact that corruption fights back. Bello must have his day in court, no matter the recourse to blackmail, appeal to emotive public sympathy, or acts of brigandage.”
Oyewale vowed that many more former governors, ministers, and top government officials would be arraigned soon.
He said, “Within the year, the Commission had arraigned three former ministers, two ex-governors, several top government officials, captains of industries, internet fraudsters and many more would be arraigned in due course.
“Every former governor, minister, head of ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs being investigated by the Commission would soon be charged to court. The EFCC is not running a circus show. Corruption issues should not be turned into a theatre of the absurd. Those who harbor a criminal suspect should know that the act is also a criminal offence which is also punishable in law.”