The unexpected happened last week, a high profile Nigerian, the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission voluntarily walked into the headquarters of the anti-graft agency —and spent hours at the premises but was told to go home.
Despite months of declaring the former Governor wanted on national dailies and all social media fora of engagement, the anti-graft agency refused to arrest him on the flimsy ground that he visited their office with a sitting Governor covered by immunity. What happened later in the night on that fateful day will interest you.
Later in the afternoon, EFCC through the Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the commission, Mr. Micheal Nzekwe had called the former Governor to plead that he should cooperate with them and allow them to arrest him in a movie-like arrangement—Cameras and journalists hanging around while they break into his house and arrest him like a common criminal.
Alhaji Yahaya Bello rebuffed them outrightly, insisting that he is not a criminal and he is willing to submit himself at any time they want him in their office. The non-compliance of the former Governor to this arrangement by the EFCC was what led to the siege at the Kogi State Governor’s lodge in Asokoro where the former Governor, Yahaya Bello and the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo were staying at that time.
The EFCC decided to raid the official lodge of a Governor who they claimed because his immunity was the reason why they couldn’t arrest Alhaji Yahaya Bello when he showed up at their office earlier in the day. One is forced to wonder if the immunity of the sitting Governor later expired in the night when they decided to raid his official residence in a Gestapo manner.
It is at this point that well-meaning Nigerians began to ask questions, if EFCC has become immune to shame and embarrassment. Many opined that It is illogical that a person who surrenders himself to your office in the morning will at the same time escape his trial subsequently.
It was becoming obvious that the Olukoyed-led EFCC might be executing a hatchet job for a certain unknown power broker who has scores to settle with the Kogi State former Governor. This has in turn raised several concerns and People asking why would the EFCC seek to embarrass the former Governor at all costs when the matter is already in court.
The Obvious Selective Fight Against Corruption
A similar case about the former Governor of Zamfara State, the current Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Muhammed Bello Matawalle has been brought before the commission by his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal and in the case of Kogi State, the incumbent Governor had insisted that no State money was misappropriated by Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The EFCC has continued to turn a blind eye to the case of the former Governor of Zamfara State for reasons best known to them whom his successor has continued to insist he mismanaged the state resources while serving as Governor of Zamfara State.
Nothing has been heard about EFCC on this case, instead, they have continued to harass and intimidate Alhaji Yahaya Bello for his decision to protect his fundamental human right by approaching the court of law to challenge the warrant of arrest issued against him. The same approach Dr. Bello Matawalle has adopted and was accepted by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission.
The energy spent in the media trial of Alhaji Yahaya Bello by the prosecuting agency is unnecessary, and suspicious and suggests that there is an obvious sign of a selective fight against corruption by the commission which calls for concern.
The Money For Hand—Back For Ground Syndrome
The activities of the Olukoyede-led EFCC have been surrounded by allegations of unprofessionalism and corruption tendencies. The recent and sensational one that threw Nigerians in utter disbelief is the case of a socialite, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju who was recently charged with a case of money laundering and abuse of the naira but later had the money laundry charges dropped against him.
He was recently recorded on a phone conversation admitting to bribing some men of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission with the sum of fifteen million naira to drop the money laundry charges against him and being placed in a VIP apartment outside the prison where he was convicted to serve his supposed six-month jail term.
This is a mind blogging revelation that took many Nigerians by surprise. In the history of the fight against corruption, it is unheard of that a convicted individual can pay his way out of financial crimes through a supposed anti-graft agency that is expected to lead the fight against corruption. This revelation has kept people wondering if the agency has been deceiving Nigerians all along.
An anti-graft agency like EFCC is supposed to be seen to be working in the interest of the people in tandem with the law but they have continuously operated with all manner of recklessness and disregard for the rule of law. The once respected agency has been reduced to a witch-hunting apparatus in the hands of those at the top.
This is pathetic to say the least, no law enforcement agency should be seen to be deploying criminal trials as instruments of political witch-hunt, oppression or punishment, so long the Nigerian constitution still dictates that every citizen charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent Until proven otherwise.
There is a need to purge the anti-graft agency of corrupt-minded people like Mr. Olukoyede. The face-off between the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission and Alhaji Yahaya Bello has exposed the ineptitude of Mr Olukoyede and there is a need for all well-meaning Nigerians to rise up and render their voice in correcting this obvious abuse of office.
– Aliyu Mahmud Amoto writes from Okene.
