Yahaya Bello Sparks Controversy As CUPP Presses Tinubu To Remove Olukoyede

Yahaya Bello Sparks Controversy As CUPP Presses Tinubu To Remove Olukoyede....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately remove Ola Olukoyede from his position as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), citing gross incompetence……CONTINUE READING 

The group criticized Olukoyede for the EFCC’s mishandling of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s appearance at the commission. They argued that there was no justifiable reason for the EFCC’s failure to interrogate Bello when he reportedly presented himself to the agency. The CUPP’s statement, signed by 10 members from its Media, Strategy, Steering, Financial Contact, and Mobilisation Committees, was released to the press on Tuesday in Abuja.

The statement reads, “The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) is deeply disappointed with the ongoing situation between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. We are aware of the inexplicable back-and-forth between the EFCC and the former Governor, which has captured significant public attention across Nigeria. Many Nigerians were eagerly awaiting the day when the former Governor would face the serious corruption allegations against him by the anti-graft agency. The EFCC went as far as declaring him wanted and placing him on an international watchlist with INTERPOL’s assistance, instructing that he be arrested wherever he was found.

“It is perplexing that the same man, who has been the subject of a nationwide manhunt, could walk into your headquarters in Abuja and leave without being interrogated, under the guise of flimsy excuses, including his arrival with a sitting Governor. A competent and intelligent head of a security agency like the EFCC would have tactfully taken the former Governor into custody without any issues. However, the current leadership of the EFCC appears clueless in the art of effective policing. The EFCC’s responsibilities seem to be beyond the current chairman’s qualifications as a legal practitioner.

“When Olukoyede was appointed as the EFCC chairman, many legal experts argued that the position should be occupied by a serving or retired senior officer from the police or another security agency. Those warnings were ignored, and the result has been a decline in the progress made in anti-corruption efforts since his tenure began.

“If you couldn’t detain the former Governor when he appeared at your office, why send armed operatives to the residence of the sitting Governor in the middle of the night, supposedly to arrest the same man who had already made himself available? This reckless action could have resulted in a tragic outcome with severe consequences for our democracy and could have escalated political tensions uncontrollably.

“There is no valid excuse for these two serious errors in judgment by the EFCC. First, allowing a wanted individual to leave your premises under suspicious circumstances, and second, later attempting to arrest him at night. The EFCC needs to clarify its true intentions and interests in this matter. Since Olukoyede took over as chairman, the EFCC has been mired in one controversy after another, from gross human rights abuses by its operatives to blatant disregard for due process and court orders.

“With such leadership, the EFCC is incapable of effectively combating corruption. If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is truly committed to fighting corruption in Nigeria, he should immediately sack the current EFCC chairman and appoint a seasoned senior security officer from a real security agency to prevent further local and international embarrassments caused by this administration.

“This is a case of a square peg in a round hole, and the mismatch is evident.”