The recent statement credited to the faceless Movement for the Emancipation of Kogi State (MEKSTA) on the ongoing trial involving former Governor Yahaya Bello raises more questions about the group’s objectivity and intent than it answers about justice or institutional conduct.
While civic engagement in judicial matters is a legitimate democratic exercise, it must be anchored in restraint, factual accuracy, and respect for established legal processes. Unfortunately, MEKSTA’s intervention falls short on all three counts. Its submission reads less like a principled call for accountability and more like a politically motivated commentary that seeks to pre-empt judicial outcomes through public pressure.
Of particular concern is the group’s casual assumption of guilt, both of court officials and of the former governor, despite the matter being actively before a competent court of law. In any constitutional democracy, allegations, no matter how sensationally presented, do not translate to conclusions. Courts, not pressure groups, are vested with the authority to determine culpability after a full and fair hearing.
MEKSTA’s attempt to interpret and enforce court directives through a press statement also reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of judicial and security protocols. Operational decisions of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services are guided by law and procedure, not by the expectations or interpretations of external advocacy groups. To suggest otherwise is to undermine institutional integrity under the guise of concern for professionalism.
Equally noteworthy is the group’s selective moral posture. Its statement is conspicuously silent on the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s legal system. It is also silent on the dangers of politicising an ongoing trial by amplifying untested claims and speculative narratives. Justice is not served by sensationalism, nor is public confidence strengthened when advocacy groups appear more interested in headlines than in balance.
Former Governor Yahaya Bello, like every Nigerian citizen, is entitled to due process and the full protection of the law. Supporting this principle does not amount to shielding anyone from accountability; rather, it affirms commitment to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. Any outcome reached outside this framework would be a disservice not only to the parties involved but to the justice system itself.
If MEKSTA is genuinely committed to the emancipation of Kogi State, it would do well to promote calm, respect for institutions, and confidence in the courts, rather than adopting a tone that suggests verdicts can be negotiated in the media. The ongoing proceedings will run their course, and it is in the collective interest of Nigerians that they do so without undue political or public interference.
– Comrade Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi
National Coordinator
Kogi Youth Network (KYN)
