The Acting Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Benin Command, Mr. Effa Okim in a visit to the Delta State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Asaba, the state capital, stated that the failure to arrest the Ex-governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yayaha Bello, over the ₦80 billion alleged fraud and the continued absence of the politician from court, was shameful and a mockery of the Nigerian justice system. He claimed that those actions pose very big questions that Nigeria has to answer.
“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 allegation and has been invited by the EFCC to come and explain, and for months, he is acting drama, and we are all here wanting to ask questions!” Okim said.
He further claimed that the ex-governor was being shielded from the court process by his colleagues.
“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…the media should come out for the first time to harmonize, criticize that action and forget about prosecution but tell him to make himself available; thereafter we know what to do”
The director also stated that the EFCC’s strict observance of the law in the case was a desire to follow due process and not a sign of weakness. He said, “Because we respect the Law, we want to go by the process, we are inhibited, that does not make us weak”.
Okim said beyond legality, there was a moral aspect of the case.
“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.”
