Tinubu-Led Government Demands Yahaya Bello’s Appearance Before EFCC

Tinubu-Led Government Demands Yahaya Bello’s Appearance Before EFCC

The former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has been urged by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to cooperate with the ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into allegations of corruption during his tenure. This call comes amidst escalating tensions surrounding attempts to apprehend Bello for his scheduled arraignment, slated for Thursday.

Recent efforts by the EFCC to detain the ex-governor have been met with resistance, garnering significant public and media scrutiny.

In a statement personally issued by the AGF, concerns were raised regarding the actions of the current Kogi Governor, Ahmed Ododo, who allegedly utilized his immunity to prevent Bello’s arrest on Wednesday.

Fagbemi condemned such interventions as “disturbing” and contrary to the principles of justice and transparency.

“The act of leveraging one’s position to obstruct the lawful arrest of an individual is not only troubling but also a form of evasion that tarnishes Nigeria’s reputation internationally,” Fagbemi asserted.

He reiterated the EFCC’s legal authority to summon any Nigerian for questioning and reaffirmed his dedication to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the rights of all citizens.

In a concise statement, the AGF remarked, “The unprecedented developments surrounding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its pursuit of its statutory obligations have come to my attention (as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) as a matter of grave concern.

“It is now clear that the EFCC is empowered by law to request the presence of any person of interest for interrogation in the course of its investigations into any matter, irrespective of their status. Therefore, the appropriate response to an invitation is not to obstruct the EFCC but to duly honor their summons.

“A situation where public officials, who themselves enjoy legal protection from law enforcement agencies, devise schemes to obstruct the commendable efforts of the EFCC to discharge its duty is deeply unsettling.

“Evading the law does not resolve issues but exacerbates them.

“I unequivocally affirm my commitment to the rule of law and will not hesitate to call the EFCC or any other agency to order if there are indications of any infringement upon the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by these agencies. However, I firmly believe that state institutions should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently. Nigeria possesses a robust judicial system capable of safeguarding the rights of all who adhere to the rule of law.

“I therefore urge anyone summoned by the EFCC or any other agency to promptly demonstrate decency and civility by honoring such summons instead of resorting to temporary self-help and evasion, actions that only reflect poorly on our nation before the international community.

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