A civil society group, Transparency Initiative Project has faulted former Governor Yahaya Bello for trying to evade justice and attempting to drag the reputation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the mud instead of submitting himself for questioning and the courts of law to clear allegations of financial malfeasance while in office.

Convener of the group, Yemen Ngutor made this known in a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja and warned Bello to stop being a fugitive and take responsibilities for events that took under his reign as a governor of Kogi state.

The group insists that the former must have his day in court, dismissing all attempts to rubbish the good work done by EFCC to arraign Bello for allegedly misappropriating N80.2 billion. Adding that the commission has not, in any way, erred but doing its lawful job by asking the former Kogi State’s Governor to appear before it for questioning.

The group condemned strongly the call for EFCC’s Chairman’s resignation and knocked individuals and faceless groups used by corrupt politicians to distract the EFCC, warning them to steer clear and allow the former governor to have his day in court.

Former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, had filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) declaration of him as wanted. Bello is facing a 19-count charge for allegedly laundering N80.2 billion.

“It should be clear by now to all Nigerians that strict accountability in governance occupies a cardinal place in President Tinubu’s administration. To serve this purpose, his government has shown zero tolerance for cases of corruption since assuming office.

“Yahaya Bello is not above the and we simply urging him to man up and face justice. So the EFCC, by inviting the former governor Yahaya Bello, as it did with past and other officials is in tandem with its policy and character to nurture a culture of probity and accountability in governance.

“We believe that Yahaya Bello has no reason to fear. It is a process that is not predetermined. We urge him to heed the advice of the Attorney General and so many other Nigerians and make himself available to the courts required by laws.

“We also advise members of the public who have been up in arms against the anti-graft agency to be circumspect in their reaction to the issue,” the group said.
The EFCC has also restated their aim to ensure Yahaya Bello faces the law and clear the air on the shenanigans of the former Kogi governor.

In a statement, the Commission explained:
“The incident of Wednesday, September 18, 2024, regarding the orchestrated antics of former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello to surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, 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.

It is public knowledge that the former governor had made several unsuccessful attempts to throw spanners in his ongoing trial through some irresponsible and utterly rascal efforts. The appropriate place of surrender would be before Justice Nwite before whom his legal team had undertaken to produce him to answer to the 18-count charges of money laundering.

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 Commission 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 scandalize the Commission.

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 marshaled 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.

Till date, Bello is yet to take his plea in the alleged N80.2 billion 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.

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.

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, and MDAs being investigated by the Commission would soon be arrested and 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.

While the EFCC is assuring the public of its unfaltering focus and commitment to continue to tackle every issue of economic and financial crime without fear or favour, there is a need to remind Nigerians that corruption does fight back and caution and restraint should always be exercised in responding to the operational mechanics and dynamics of the Commission. By now, Bello ought to know that the game is up for him and the chicken has come home to roost. The EFCC would continue with its no sacred cow policy, no matter whose ox is gored,” the statement read.