Yahaya Bello must account for billions of Kogi fund

By Funso Mojuba

As we join the rest of the world to celebrate the 64th anniversary of the Nigeria Independence day, we also join the Anti-Corruption Agencies in Nigeria, notably the ICPC and EFCC to vigorously more than ever, fight the enemy number one that has hindered our individual and collective progress, development, peace and security.

Therefore, we of the Governance Monitor Initiative (GMI) hereby advise that, it is in the best interest of Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State to appear in court to try to prove his innocence of the huge allegations of theft of public money during his reign, because we will continue to mobilize moral pressure against people like him.

His avoidance of the EFCC cannot help him. His case cannot be covered any longer because Nigerians everywhere in the world are watching the EFCC closely, how the anti-graft agency is prosecuting the high class robbery of the people of Kogi State. The EFCC must justify the damning allegations on Yahaya Bello. It is in the best interest of the former Governor to show up in court and submit to legal processes in order to cleanse his image of the mess of the corruption allegations of more than One Hundred Billion naira (N1,000,000,000.00), he is being accused of stealing directly from the confluence state.

We of the civil society groups strongly stand with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to bring Mr. Yahaya Bello to justice. This is a critical test case for the current chairman of that noble agency. All eyes are on him and his team.

On Wednesday, 18th September, 2024, our collective intelligence was insulted when Mr. Yahaya Bello got towed to the car park of the EFCC by Mr. Ododo, the current governor of Kogi State, standing and moving hand-in-hand, hiding behind the constitutional power of the incumbent’s Executive Immunity. It was embarrassing watching that scenario of the lizard-romance-dance on the screen seen by the general public.

That particular episode of the Yahaya Bello’s drama has challenged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to immediately invigorate campaign to review the immunity provision in Nigeria’s constitution.

Notably, this is one dark cover that has encouraged reckless corruption and power abuse by the Executives in our democracy since 1999.

We advise Mr. Yahaya Bello to be bold to free himself from the trash bin and cold of the underground that he has sentence himself; to come catch the warmth of the open air in court, where he can cleanse his image. His utter fear of even the shadow of the Eagle-Commission gives the public a sense that, Mr. Ex-governor Bello is truly guilty of the criminal allegations levelled against him. But hiding away from the EFCC won’t stop the legal proceedings on his case at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In this case, we note the irresponsible behaviour of the Kogi State House of Assembly as totally disturbing and condemnable. For this legislative body who should be at the forefront to seek justice for the people they represent to be calling on the EFCC chairman to leave office because of Yahaya’s case, clearly demonstrate that, that house needs to be closely watched by the eagle-eyed-commission in order to save the people of Kogi State from another regime of reckless looting by those who were elected to improve the living condition, safety and security of the general public.

Funso Mojuba is
Coordinator,
Governance Monitor Initiative (GMI)
and member of the Civil Society Coalition