The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and Campaign for Democracy (CD) have condemned the ‘shoddy’ handling of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello’s investigation for financial fraud, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, and issued yesterday, Thursday, September 19, the CNPP expressed concerns over the EFCC’s methods and their implications for Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
Referring to the latest twist in the drama between the EFCC and the former Governor, whereby Bello who is wanted by the EFCC surrendered self to the anti-graft agency but the EFCC refused to interrogate him because “he came there with a sitting Governor who has immunity”, the CNPP said the EFCC’s action was not only embarrassing “to all of us as a nation” but also “has reinforced the perception that the anti-corruption campaign has been compromised and politicized.”
“The EFCC’s actions have not only brought embarrassment to our nation but have also fueled the perception that the anti-corruption campaign has been compromised and politicized,” the statement noted, alleging that, in the Yahaya Bello case, it does appear that “the EFCC is increasingly becoming more persecutory than prosecutors.”
The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in the country outlined “a troubling sequence of events involving former Governor Yahaya Bello, who voluntarily surrendered to the EFCC” but “instead of a straightforward process, he was reportedly asked to go, only to be subjected later in the evening of the same day, to a “Gestapo-style raid” by EFCC operatives at the Kogi State Governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
The CNPP expressed concern over such an approach, stating that “this troubling sequence of events has led many Nigerians to question the true intentions of the EFCC.”
The group recalled that the EFCC had previously attempted to arrest the former Governor on April 17, 2024, just ahead of his scheduled arraignment on April 18, 2024, alongside three other suspects, on a 19-count charge of money laundering, amounting to N80.2 billion.
The group further recalled that following a ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite, the EFCC had served Bello his charges through his legal counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad (SAN).
Daily Query reports that the Anti-graft agency was, in addition, later to declare Bello wanted, going as far as alerting the Interpol to the possibility of Bello wanting to flee the country and, therefore, that he should be arrested wherever he was found outside Nigeria.
In light of these developments, the CNPP wondered what informed EFCC’s contradictory action when Bello eventually surrendered himself to the Commission, lamenting that the agency appears more interested in persecuting the former Governor of Kogi State instead of prosecuting him.
That being the case, CNPP demanded EFCC’s immediate cessation of the “wanton dramatization of its operations.”
“We stand in solidarity with Nigerians who seek transparency and fairness in EFCC’s operations,” the CNPP declared, insisting that “the actions of the EFCC must be guided by the rule of law, rather than political expediency or personal vendettas”, and deployment of of “counterproductive theatrics” as operational tactic.
Similarly, the Campaign for Democracy (CD), has criticised the EFCC for its failure to arrest the former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello when the man surrendered himself to the Commission, describing the agency’s action as “a demonstration of incompetence.”
In a statement issued yesterday, Thursday, September 19, the group’s president, Comrade Ifeanyi Odili expressed disbelief that the ex-Governor visited the EFCC headquarters, waited for three hours and left without any arrest or interrogation, despite an ongoing investigation of his alleged corrupt financial deals while in office.
“Instead of taking action, the EFCC allowed him to leave, only to release a statement claiming he was still a wanted man,” Odili said.
According to the CD, the EFCC’s claim that they could not arrest the former Governor because he was accompanied by a sitting Governor underscored the incompetence of the Commission’s leadership.
The CD emphasized that while the organization had previously refrained from commenting on the case, the recent events have raised concerns about Nigeria’s democratic principles and international reputation.
Odili noted that associates of the former Governor had been raising alarms about threats to his life, and the failure of the EFCC to act only heightened these concerns.
“After claiming they couldn’t arrest him due to the presence of the governor, the EFCC later went to the Governor’s residence at night, firing gunshots. This behavior suggests lawlessness, and it is unacceptable,” Odili said.
The CD concluded that in more orderly societies, the EFCC Chairman would have been dismissed immediately following such a public failure.
“The actions of the EFCC appear to be driven by motives other than the fight against corruption,” the statement added, calling for urgent action from the government.
