In a statement signed by Dr. Dapo Oluwole (Transparency and Accountability Network TAN) and Comrade Declan Ihekhaire (Activists for Good Governance) on behalf of 120 others, the Coalition said given the current situation surrounding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Bello, only someone uninformed would still demand Bello’s his arrest.
“HEDA has a history of promoting executive lawlessness and undermining the rule of law,” the Coalition charged. “We wonder why HEDA has failed to address the EFCC’s inaction when Bello visited their office on Sept 18, and instead chose to stir up unfounded outrage, which undermines the judicial process.”
According to the Coalition, the former Governor had voluntarily visited the EFCC headquarters in Abuja to respond to allegations against him to show his level of cooperation only for the EFCC to ignore only to turn around later to declare him wanted again.
While calling for justice and accountability, the Coalition emphasized that the allegations should be addressed through proper legal channels, not sensationalist calls for unlawful arrests.
The group urged the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to remain vigilant against groups like HEDA that undermine the rule of law.
The coalition has threatened to expose the alleged misuse of civil society organizations by the EFCC to promote actions detrimental to justice and legality, stressing the importance of upholding legal standards in all anti-corruption matters and cautioning against mob mentality and unwarranted calls for immediate action.
