The immediate past Governor of Kogi Started, Yahaya Adoza Bello, on Tuesday broke his silence on the botched bids by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest him and the subsequent declaration of him wanted by the anti – graft agency.
Bello said he is not afraid of the EFCC but only demanding that the commission should respect the rule of law in the manner it goes about handling any matter pertaining to him.
Speaking through a statement by Mr Ohiare Michael of the Media Office, His Excellency Yahaya Bello, the ex – Governor said it had been made clear that the “EFCC is engaged in a campaign of intimidation and harassment” against him, stressing that no formal invitation was extended to him by the agency to appear before it immediately his tenure ended as Governor.
Bello who made this position known while refuting the latest claims on Monday by the EFCC that it did not disobey court order on the ex – Governor’s matter, dismissed it as another “lie” from the agency and challenged it to show proof that he was formally invited to appear before it.
Recalling a case of EFCC’s assault on citizens’ rights, Bello cited the judgment of the High Court of Justice, Kogi State, on April 17th, 2024 to highlights the EFCC’s abuse of its statutory duties and urged the public to denounce these unlawful transgressions until the commission undertakes a comprehensive reform and purges itself of such practices.
The full text of statement;
Our attention has been drawn to a publication/press statement with the above title, issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, 22nd April, 2024, and signed by Wilson Uwujaren, its Acting Director of Public Affairs.
In the said statement, which the Commission carefully circulated widely as usual, Mr. Uwujaren, who we have to believe is not a lawyer, continues the EFCC’s ongoing unconscionable lies against the former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, CON, by labelling him as a fugitive from justice in order to disingenuously justify their established and willful pattern of defying lawful court orders.
Contrary to Mr. Uwujaren’s claims, official records and court documents relating to their hounding of Alhaji Yahaya Bello establish a clear timeline of events. These documents are endorsed with dates and times of filing and payments, which are endorsed on court processes – all of which testify to the true sequence of events.
For The Records, here is a summary of key events:
No Formal Invitation: The EFCC claims to have invited Alhaji Yahaya Bello immediately after his tenure ended on January 27th, 2024. We challenge the EFCC to produce a copy of this invitation, including the delivery date and the recipient’s name/endorsement. We are confident they cannot provide this simple evidence.
Preemptive Charge: Prior to any alleged invitation, the EFCC amended Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/22 on February 5th, 2023, to accuse Yahaya Bello of conspiring to convert over 80 Billion Naira of Kogi State funds in September 2015. This amendment listed Yahaya Bello as “still at large,” demonstrating a clear intention to arrest him.
*Impossible Accusations: The alleged timelines provided by the EFCC for its phantasmagorical allegations of crime against Yahaya Bello predates his Inauguration as Governor of Kogi State on January 27th, 2016.
The second charge even attempts to correct the initial blunder and says the crime was committed in February 2016, less than a month after he became Governor! The total Kogi State budget in 2016 was significantly less than the sum alleged in the charges.
Seeking Protection Under The Law: To protect his reputation and fundamental rights, Alhaji Yahaya Bello filed Fundamental Rights Enforcement action Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 with the High Court of Justice, Kogi State on February 8th, 2024. Court records, even from the EFCC, all substantiate this.
Court-Ordered Restraint: The High Court granted an order restraining the EFCC from inviting, arresting, or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello pending the determination of the Originating Motion. This order was served on the EFCC on February 12th, 2024.
EFCC’s Disregard for the Law: Despite the order, the EFCC, represented by Senior Advocates Rotimi Oyedepo and J.S Okutepa, filed Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 against Yahaya Bello on March 6th, 2024, in violation of the order.
The EFCC’s ‘Ex Parte Warrant’ Is Another False Narrative: Mr. Uwujaren falsely implies that the EFCC sought a warrant of arrest only after the Kogi State High Court ruling on April 17th, 2024. This ruling was at about 2pm. Records will show that the motion was filed at 8:24 am on April 17th, prior to the ruling. And Nigerians would testify to the fact that, at that time, EFCC agents had already laid siege on his residence, attempting his arrest. These are clear occurrences that cannot be denied.
EFCC – A Litany of Violations: The EFCC failed to present the warrant at Yahaya Bello’s residence. The warrant itself is invalid, being obtained in defiance of a court order and based on misleading statements, as Alhaji Yahaya Bello is a defendant and not a fleeing suspect or a suspect, having been charged.
EFCC’s Assault on Citizens’ Rights: The judgment of the High Court of Justice, Kogi State, on April 17th, 2024, highlights the EFCC’s abuse of its statutory duties. We urge the public to denounce these unlawful transgressions until the EFCC undertakes a comprehensive reform of its practices.
In Conclusion: It is clear that the EFCC is engaged in a campaign of intimidation and harassment. Alhaji Yahaya Bello is not afraid of the EFCC. His demand is that the rule of law be respected.
Signed:
Ohiare Michael
MEDIA OFFICE
HE YAHAYA BELLO
23 April, 2024
