The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has insisted that Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi, must present himself to the court and answer to the 18-count charges against him.
In a statement, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, asked Bello to obey court order and appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
He said the former governor had made “several unsuccessful attempts to throw spanners in his ongoing trial through some irresponsible and utterly rascally efforts.”
“As a responsible anti-graft agency, the EFCC is sensitive to public opinions, especially if they are in tandem with its operational codes and Standard Operating Procedures,” he stated.
“However, no hysteria, blackmail, sentiment or coordinated attacks in some section of the media would make the Commission compromise its integrity.
“Yahaya Bello’s matter cannot define the success or failure of the works of the EFCC, as the scorecard of the Commission is remarkable and undeniably impressive. The EFCC is not unaware of the fact that corruption fights back.
“Bello must have his day in court, no matter the recourse to blackmail, appeal to emotive public sympathy or acts of brigandage.”
According to the EFCC spokesman, the former governor is yet to take his plea in the alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges preferred against him before Justice Nwite.
He stated that Bello’s “invasion of the corporate headquarters of the Commission with a retinue of security details, hand-to-hand cahoots and carriage with a sitting governor having immunity, unwarranted media blitz, scripted sleight of hands unknown to the public and other backend intelligence available to the Commission, compelled a tactical rebuff of his touted surrender offer.
“The incident of Wednesday, September 18, 2024 regarding the orchestrated antics of the former governor to surrender himself to the EFCC, having denied being invited by the Commission and operating underground as a fugitive for several months, expectedly raised concerns and curiosity of many Nigerians who had been waiting frantically for his arrest and trial,” the statement stated.
