It was on the 27th January, 2024, that Yahaha Adoza Bello formally relinquished power to his successor (Ahmed Usman Ododo), after eight years in office in Kogi State, that is, from 2016 to 2024. As a protocol, it means that Yahaya Adoza Bello will have nothing to do at the Lord Lugard House, Lokoja, effective January 2024, unless on visits or invited formally by the incumbent governor to grace official occasions. Similarly, it is important to knowthat by virtue of relinquishment of power, Yahaya Adoza Bello has also been stripped of immunity as conferred on him by Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), which he enjoyed for eight years as governor of Kogi State.
What this also means is that Yahaya Adoza Bello has been laid-bare to all sorts of intrusions into his private life, andthis should not be surprising because as a public figure, he could be summoned for questioning anytime even by concerned citizens of the state and anti-graft agencies as to how he managed the affairs of Kogi State for eight years for purposes of accountability and transparency. In other words, he could be asked questions on his deeds as governor, and where satisfactory answers are in short supply, civil or criminal proceedings could be instituted against him ostensibly to establish the level of rot or otherwise under him while in office.
From available information, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), then under the leadership of Abdulrasheed Bawa had been monitoring the activities of the ex-governor even while in office and only waited till when he has been weaned of immunity effective January 2024 before it (EFCC), could formally move against him. For all intents and purposes, EFCC, now under the chairmanship of Olanipekun Olukoyede has finally decided to bring Yahaya Adoza Bello to justice after relinquishingpower following the allegations of corruption and other related matters made against him by the anti-graft agency.
The refusal and/or failure of Yahaya Adoza Bello to honour the invitation of EFCC obviously led to laying siege on his house situate at No. 9 Benghazi Street, Zone 4, Abuja on April 17, 2024, for his possible arrest, but this attempt failed because it was reported that the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, surreptitiously whisked Yahaya Adoza Bello away to the consternation of EFCC. Following this, Yahaya Adoza Bello was declared wanted by EFCC on 18th April, 2024, and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), followed suit on April 19, 2024, by placing Yahaya Adoza Bello on watch-list with a directive to the agencies incharge of the administration of air, water and land to keep vigil and possibly arrest Yahaya Adoza Bello if he attempts to escape via any of the modes of transportation.
Since January 2024, when the leadership of EFCC claimed to have invited Yahaya Adoza Bello to his office which he declined till date, he (Yahaya Adoza Bello), has refused and/or failed to submit himself to EFCC for ‘’grilling’’ so that he could render account of his stewardship. Given this, it is important that Yahaya Adoza Bello bear in mind that by putting up appearance either at the court of law or EFCC is not tantamount to instant conviction, but it is an opportunity for him to clear his name, image and persona, which unfortunately is being sullied due to his unnecessary intransigence. It is within this context that the on-going altercation between EFCC and Yahaya Adoza Bello which is primarily based on white collar crime of over Eighty Billion Naira allegedly embezzled by the latter could be viewed and rationalized.
It should be noted that in an attempt to reduce tension, prominent Nigerians, including Chief Edwin Clark (Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF), Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General and Honourable Minister of Justice of the Federation, Samuel Ortom, former governor of Benue State, Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and others too numerous to mention have called on Yahaya Adoza Bello to submit himself to EFCC for justice but Yahaya Adoza Bello has remained impervious or adamant to all the entreaties of the prominent Nigerians.
In this instant case, I think politically exposed persons should emulate Ayodele Fayose, former Governor of Ekiti State, who without waiting for invitation submitted himself to EFCC, where he was reported to have said: ‘’EFCC, Here I am here.’’ (ThisDay, April 23, 2024). I think this is commendable, and therefore wish to recommend the noble act to all politically exposed persons and in particular Yahaya Adoza Bello to follow the footstep of Ayodele Fayose so that the on-going debacle between him and EFCC could be put to rest once and for all.
It should be noted that as we write this piece, the ex-governor has not found it necessary to put up appearance at the court of law for his arraignment and prosecution, a development which has done a huge damage to his credibility and reputation, particularly as a former governor of a state who should be at home with the laws of the nation, and not only that, also have respect for them. It is in his own interest to submit to EFCC, but rather than toe this path of dignity, it is being rumoured that crowds which have been protesting against his arrest on the streets of Abuja and elsewhere are being instigated by him, and if this is true, it is my considered opinion that renting crowds would do him no favour but rather compound his woes, thus further alienating himself from those who originally had had soft spot for his cause.
The continued demonstration of intransigence on the part of the ex-governor in shunning the EFCC and court of law speaks volumes about the kind of legacy he wishes to leavebehind for the current and future generations. Given his status and stature in Nigeria, as well as an ex-governor much is expected of him in terms of decency and decorum. It should be borne in mind that no matter how influential Yahaya Adoza Bello might be, he should not arrogate to himself the audacity to want to play God.
I am afraid that this case between EFCC and Yahaya Adoza Bello is assuming a dangerous dimension, and it is for this reason that I would with profound respect call on the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Mohammed Anaje, as well as community leaders, leaders of thought, opinion leaders, women leaders, intelligentsia, youth leaders, et cetera, to come together and seek an audience with the Governor of the State so that a consensus could be reached as to what to do to reduce the ominous tension hovering on Yahaya Adoza Bello. In this respect, I would suggest that the Governor lead a powerful delegation to the office of the Attorney General and Honourable Minister of Justice, to plead for his intervention on the matter with a view to demandingfor a soft-landing for Yahaya Adoza Bello. It should be emphasized that flexing of muscle by some Ebira youths, hiring crowds and forming amorphous groups and employing unsavory tactics to antagonize EFCC and its leadership would not resolve the altercation, but rather a persuasive approach should be adopted in handling the matter so as to avoid a huge collateral damage that could befall the ex-governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
Before ending this piece, I would want to appeal to the ex-governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, to sheath his sword and hearken to the voice of reason and submit himself to EFCC or court of law for arraignment and possible prosecution. It is important to bear in mind that reporting to EFCC does not automatically translate to conviction, but rather an opportunity for him to clear his name and image. It should be mentioned that pseudo analysts, arm-chair critics and emergent activists who are beating the drums of resistance for him are certainly not his friends, but enemies who are out to aggravate his woes and who would eventually turn round to denounce him as a contumacious personality always impervious to receptivity of advice. Given this therefore, it is my view that Yahaya Adoza Bello should consider it exigent and throw in the towel today and not tomorrow.
– Isiaku A. R. Ahutu writes from Lagos.
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