On Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) expressed frustration over former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s evasion of justice.
Bello, accused of N80.2 billion fraud, has repeatedly failed to appear in court, prompting the EFCC to declare him wanted. The Nigerian Immigration Service has also placed Bello on a watchlist.
During a visit to the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Asaba, Mr. Effa Okim, the acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Command, criticized the situation, highlighting the broader implications for the Nigerian justice system. Okim lamented that Bello’s actions, and the system’s inability to apprehend him, ridicule the rule of law and bring shame to the nation.
Okim expressed frustration over the perceived protection Bello receives from influential figures, questioning why leaders and colleagues of the former governor have not intervened. He stated, “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?”
Okim urged a collective moral responsibility, emphasizing that beyond the legal framework, the case reflects poorly on Nigeria’s national image. He called for prominent figures and the media to unite in urging Bello to present himself to the EFCC. “Where has morality gone before legality that we can’t summon that man and tell him to go and report himself to the EFCC?” Okim asked.
The EFCC official’s remarks underscored the frustration with the current legal impasse and the broader societal implications of such high-profile evasion of justice. Okim stressed the need for a moral awakening, suggesting that the media play a pivotal role in holding figures like Bello accountable.
In response, Churchill Oyowe, Chairman of the NUJ Delta State Council, assured the EFCC of the support of journalists in the state. The situation remains tense as the EFCC continues its efforts to bring Bello to justice, highlighting a critical challenge in Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
