The failure of ex-Kogi governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, accused of N80.2bn fraud, to present himself in court for trial is a ridicule to the Nigerian justice system.
The acting Zonal Director, Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Effa Okim, made the statement during a familiarisation visit to the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Asaba, Delta State capital on Wednesday.
The anti-graft agency is having a running legal battle with Bello over alleged N80.2bn fraud.
Following the failed attempt to arrest him and his continuous absence in court for his arraignment, Bello was delcared wanted by the agency. The Nigerian Immigration in collaboration with the EFCC, also placed the governor on a watchlist.
Answering the question on why the EFCC had yet to arrest Bello weeks after he was declared wanted, an irate Okim affirmed strongly that the ex-governor was being shielded by the system.
In his words, “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,” the EFCC zonal director said.
“That politically-exposed Yahaya Bello, whose crime has been traced to him by allegation and has been invited by EFCC to come and explain, and for months he is acting drama and we are all here wanting to ask questions! The shame is our own shame!
“Can’t we catch him? We can, but do we go all out to catch him? Do we need to do that when he has his masters? Can’t they call him and tell him, ‘You are disgracing Nigeria’? What are you telling the world? Tell him to go and explain himself like others have done.
“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.”
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.”
Okim said the actions of Bello over the fraud probe is a ridicule on the criminal justice system, “And because we respect the law, we want to go by the process, we are inhibited that does not make us weak.”
In his remark, the Chairman, NUJ Delta State Council, Churchill Oyowe, assured the commission the support of journalists in the state.
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