I used to dismiss the claim that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was an apparatus of those in authority to witch-hunt perceived enemies or characters considered threatening to either their (political) ambition or other vested interests. I thought it was only those truly guilty of financial misconduct that should fear the EFCC.
Happenings between the anti-graft agency and the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over time, has compelled my reassessment of the earlier thought.
The EFCC was meant to enforce probity among Nigerians and stop financial corruption by investigating suspected or alleged individuals and applying existing laws to punish those found guilty. To a layman, this should be the definition of the existence and the role of the EFCC.
However, it has become clear to many Nigerians that all that gliters is not gold especially when referring to the EFCC. Even if your hands are clean, some political Mighty Igors can use it to frustrate you or demean your political resume.
The former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was alleged to have mismanaged government funds. There were inconstencies in the figures and the dates. It was said at a time that the former governor stole government money even before he became governor in 2016. I wonder how possible that was.
The witch haunt began long before he left office. Let’s put the narrative in a perspective that everyone would understand.
You woke up as an anti-graft agency and invited a former governor for questioning over alleged financial improprities. You adopted questionable modus operandi to arrest the former governor and failed.
Then, the Chairman of the EFCC, Olanipekun Olukoyede, took to the front of eager national and international cameras and declared Yahaya Bello as resisting arrest. He even swore to resign if Bello was not arrested and dealt with.
The EFCC went ahead to declare the former governor wanted. Perhaps they thought he would jet out of the country out of fear, but the White Lion does not run for nothing.
I can say as an appointee of his government that he didn’t step out of Nigeria throughout his second tenure. He was ever at home to fulfill his mandate to the people of Kogi and he surpassed expectations in every sector. So, he is not in a rush to travel abroad.
Yahaya Bello does not deserve the label that the EFCC is ascribing him.
The “wanted” Yahaya Bello, without any coercion and after consulting with family and associates, honourably came to the EFCC in readiness to answer the questions on those allegations.
But the Commission would either pretend it didn’t see the former governor or assume he was not at their office the dramatic way their sponsors wanted it.
In their hallucination, the former Governor,Yahaya Bello, would be cuffed, with hands raised, whisked from his residence, EFCC’s and other preying cameras zooming in and out on him, and possibly dragging him into their vehicle.
Then Olukoyede would conceitedly come out to address the press: “we have arrested the resisting fish.” Alas! It was all in their visual and auditory hallucination. It didn’t work!
After about 4 hours of waiting at the EFCC premises without being attended to, His Excellency left, hoping he would be called back as promised by the Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman.
The next action of the EFCC operatives was to storm the Kogi Laiason Office, where the former governor had been waiting, to arrest him. This was the same man who had made himself available hours earlier.
It is now crystal clear that the EFCC has no issue against Alhaji Yahaya Bello but only carrying out the instructions of some powerful people in government.
How do you justify letting a man you declared wanted go when he surrendered himself and still go after him with guns?
Now, there is another happening to strengthen the school of thought that Bello is being persecuted by some people using the EFCC.
Lagos State has passed a law allowing the investigation of all corruption cases involving state finances from federal agencies such as the EFCC and the ICPC to be transferred to the state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission. This grants autonomy to Lagos to treat its corruption cases without falling back on the EFCC.
Now, who is deceiving who? When the His Excellency sought to have his case treated at the Kogi High Court since the allegation against him was about the state, they took to the top of the roof to cry foul.
Speaking recently, the EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, said the Commission had hindrances from frivolous court orders and technicalities.
What exactly was he saying? That the Lagos State law was frivolous? That the rights of the former Governor of Kogi State could just be trampled upon? That the EFCC should continue as a tool in the hands of powerful people to run after perceived political enemies or threats?
Or that Lagos State is the only state where government officials alleged of corruption should be investigated at the state the offence is said to have been committed?
The EFCC should exhibit constitutional godliness by doing its work professionally. So far, its dealings on the matter involving the former Governor Yahaya Bello has introduced a number of indescribable goofing suggesting incompetence on the agency’s leadership and the operatives.
The appeal Nigerians make on this matter is that you do your job without bias and without sentiments attached.
I must add that the EFCC has waged war against the former governor enough. The Chairman should let him be to enjoy his life after a meritorious service to his dear state for 8 years.
I implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to wade into this long term disturbance of the former Kogi Governor. He should call the EFCC Chairman to order and let him exhibit professionalism and candor in discharging the duties of the office he occupies.
On the other hand I am waiting for the EFCC Chairman to fulfill that promise he made on camera. He has goofed severally on this and it is honourable for him to keep his word as a Man of God that he claims.
– Dr Gabriel Ottah was the DG Protocol and later a Special Adviser to the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba.
