Egbira youths urge Tinubu to call EFCC to order, describe Yahaya Bello as victim of ethnic minority

 

A group, Egbira Frontline Youth Council, has urgent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to called the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC),l to order, over former Governor Yahaya Bello's alleged fraud case..

The group made the call in a press statement titled "Is Yahaya Bello a Victim of Ethnic Minority", signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Adeiza Hamza and made available to journalists on Monday in Lokoja.

The group said they have absolutely lost confidence in EFCC for what it described as "unprofessionalism, lawlessness, media trial, selective justice".

 According to them, the opening of fire at the official residence of a democratically elected Governor, is ethnic bias and victimization and violations of the rule of law.

Hamza called on President Tinubu to call the EFCC to order and their co travelers that were hell bent to disgrace, victimize and allegedly eliminate Yahaya Bello, referring to action that played out on 18th September 2024 at Kogi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

"We are notifying the Federal Government, Kogi State government, concern Nigerians and the world that we the ebira frontline youth council will resist any attempt by EFCC to eliminate our sons or any form of threat to life of Yahaya Bello, EFCC will be held responsible," the group stated.

The group made references to former Governor's of River, Zamfara, Kano among others who took the anti graft agency (EFCC) to competent court of jurisdiction to stop their arrest in the same manner Yahaya Bello did.

 "EFCC obeyed the court including the recent order of the same Federal high court Abuja banning EFCC from arresting Seun Odewale Ex DG Procurement of Ekiti State, 

"Why Yahaya Bello case is different to the extent that a legal organization like EFCC seen committing contempt of court in desperation to arrest Yahaya Bello? 

"Former Governor Bello is obviously a victim of political persecution and ethic minority despite his labour and sacrifice for his People of kogi state, the party APC and Nigeria at large. 

"When the deadly violence broke out Shasha market in Oyo State in early 2021 between yoruba and hausa traders which nearly escalated to major chaos in the country, Former Governor Yahaya Bello waged in, he invited Union of Traders and reconciled them in the best interest of Nigeria. 

"Yahaya Bello did not just contribute largely to the building of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he also governed Kogi State with equitable distribution of resources of the state. He promoted unity and broke the jinx of tribal divine by ensuring equity and fairness. 

"Yahaya Bello’s successor, His Excellency Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo said Kogi Money is not missing. Kogi State House of Assembly said no money is missing,.

"Moreover, there is no protest in Kogi State over missing money, but EFCC is compromising for selective justice by ethnic pressure and desperate politicians against Yahaya Bello 

 "EFCC should be wary of fabrications of falsehoods by those fanning the ambers of ethnic divides for political gains," the group said.

They added: "Yahaya Bello is not above the law likewise EFCC, therefore, investigate him in line with rule of law in the court of competent jurisdiction and not by media trial and guerrilla kind of arrest of yahaya bello to prove a point. 

"The selective Justice, coordinated attacks, ethnic pressure and violation of the rule of law by the EFCC is very worrisome and bad omen to our democracy. 

"Wike went to court to stop EFCC from harassing and arresting him. Bello Mattawale, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Peter Odili all did same.

"Even few days ago, the same Judge Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court that ordered the arrest of Alhaji Yahaya Bello for the alleged frivolous fraud case filed by EFCC also banned the same EFCC from arresting one Seun Odewale ex DG Procurement from Ekiti State who was accused of allegedly diverting money meant for airport.

"Wike the then Governor of River State and now Minister of the Federal capital territory accompanied former Governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose to the EFCC in 2018. Rotimi Amaechi, the then Governor of River State accompanied Elrufai to the EFCC in 2014 among other instance. Why is Yahaya Bello's case different? 

" When yahaya bello voluntarily submitted himself accompanied by Governor Ododo to EFCC Headquarters in Abuja, EFCC were the one that begged him to go back to the house without questioning or detaining him for interview. 

"Later, that same night, the same EFCC anti graft agency invaded the Governor’s house like a guerrilla attack, shooting at the Governor’s lodge in a desperate bid to embarrass the Governor and arrest the same Yahaya Bello like a bandit? 

"The fact that the EFCC is now violating the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its own extant guiding law is a call for concern and a danger to our democracy. 

"They are hell bent to disgrace, embarrass and possibly eliminate Yahaya bello and even attempting the life of Governor Ododo at his official lodge.

"Shooting at the official residence of the serving Governor was the height of provocation against the democratically elected Governor which can not be tolerated anywhere in the world.

"This is the same EFCC who as at November 2023 banned operations at night now seen eating their own cake and want to have it" the group said.

By Stephen Adeleye 

Kogi Assembly calls for EFCC Chairman's removal, alleges assassination attempt on Gov. Ododo, ex-Gov. Bello

 

The Kogi State House of Assembly, has called for the removal of the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, over alleged attacks on Kogi State Governor's Lodge in Abuja.

The lawmakers also accused the EFCC of assassination attempt on the former Governor Yahaya Bello and the incumbent Governor Ahmed Ododo, stressing that the persecution of the former governor had gone on for too long and must stop.

The legislators made the call during plenary at the Assembly chamber on Monday in Lokoja, the state capital, 

The assembly members in their various motions, condemned what they described as the EFCC operatives' unprovoked attack on the Kogi State Government Lodge, saying it was an attack on the incumbent Governor and the entirety of the Kogi people.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Akus Lawal, representing Ankpa 1 State Constituency; and seconded by Hon Jacob Olawunmi, Mopamuro State Constituency.

Hon. Akus said the EFCC was out to humiliate and possibly kill the present and former governors. His colleagues all supported this. 

Seconding the motion, Hon. Olawumi stressed that the Audited Financial Reports of the State, had always been published by the State Government.

According to Olawunmi, the State House of Assembly can categorically say that no money is missing to warrant EFCC's unwarranted witch-hunting of the former Governor.

Hon. Abu Jibril of Ajaokuta State, said the EFCC boss should be prosecuted for allegedly attempting to kill the governor.

 

"The EFCC's conduct shows that the chairman is incapable of leading a supposed impartial agency like the EFCC

"The Chairman has shown incompetence that warrants his removal.

"We call on President Bola Tinubu to remove the EFCC chairman immediately," Jibrin said .

Also speaking, Hon Bode Ogunmola, Ogori/Magongo State Constituency (PDP), said: "If I am in London and there is a crisis, if I get to the Nigerian House, I will feel safe. 

"If I am in Abuja and there is a crisis, I believe that if I get to the Kogi Lodge, I will be safe. 

"For the EFCC Chairman to order that fire be opened on the official lodge of the Governor, he should be sacked and prosecuted. We should be told why he wants to kill our Governor".

The Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Hon. Suleiman AbdulRazak, alleged that officials of the EFCC were begging the former Governor to let them pretend as if he was arrested. 

He said it was an embarrassing act, which showed that the anti-graft agency was acting a script written by some political enemies of the former Governor. 

"The President should be notified of the assassination attempt on the present and former Governors; adding that the whole drama was a show to embarrass the former Governor.

"On the fateful night, a coup attempt was committed at the Kogi State Governor's Lodge and called on the President to immediately remove the EFCC Chairman to save the nation from further embarrassment," Abdulrazak said.

Hon Yahaya Umar, representing Omala State Constituency said, "The unlawful conducts of the EFCC show that the intention of the chairman is not to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello, but to ridicule the state. 

"The chronology of how the event happened shows that the problem of the chairman is not with the offences being alleged, but that they want to disgrace the defendant and Kogi State in general."

On her part, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Comfort Nwuchiola Egwaba, stated, "The EFCC is just trying to give the former Governor a bad name through their media trial. 

"The EFCC is not sincere in this fight. It has an agenda it is pursuing and the entire people of the state, particularly the women and youths, will not accept this."

The lawmakers unanimously resolved that the EFCC had an agenda different from the fight against corruption, which had been revealed by the way the Commission approached the issue of arrest. 

This, they said, must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.

The Kogi State House of Assembly also passed a resolution, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for his economic policies, aimed at building a strong and virile economy that will be the envy of all.

The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Yusuf, who read out the resolution of the House, stated: 

"The House formally categorizes the April 17 and September 18 incidents as assassination attempts on the former Governor, and by extension, a threat to the life of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. 

"The unprovoked attack on the Governor’s Lodge and the firing of live rounds within a diplomatic residential zone further demonstrate that the EFCC has fully marinated in a sense of its own importance and power.

"The EFCC now considers itself not only above the law but unanswerable to anyone or institution for its actions.

"Since the EFCC Chairman has shown constantly, gross incompetence, the House has resolved that the President should relieve him of his appointment with immediate effect and replace him with a competent officer who will give Mr. President's crusade for rule of law the needed effectiveness," the lawmakers stated. 

By Stephen Adeleye