The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused certain influential individuals of providing protection for former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, preventing his appearance in court to address the N80.2 billion fraud allegations against him.
Effa Okim, the EFCC's acting Zonal Director for the Benin Zonal Command, made this assertion during a familiarization visit to the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Asaba, the capital of Delta State.
Despite several attempts by the anti-graft agency to apprehend the former governor and the issuance of a wanted declaration against him, Yahaya Bello has evaded arrest. Additionally, the Nigerian Immigration Service has placed him on a watchlist.
When questioned about the reasons behind Bello's evasion of arrest, Okim responded:
“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. That politically-exposed Yahaya Bello, whose crime has been traced to him by the 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? Can’t they call him and tell him, ‘You are disgracing Nigeria’? What are you telling the world? Tell him to go and explain himself like others have done.
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.
Where has morality gone before legality that we can’t summon that man and tell him to go and report himself to the EFCC? Some persons are writing, supporting him, while some are criticizing the commission.
The problem is our own problem that borders on Nigeria’s image. 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.
The media should come out for the first time to harmonise, criticise that action and forget about prosecution but tell him to make himself available; thereafter we know what to do.”he said.
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