EFCC VS YAHAYA BELLO & KOGI STATE : THE PLACE OF LAW AND MORALITY

EFCC has no right or powers to investigate, arrest and Prosecute Former Gov Yahaya Bello under our constitution without the pellucide approval and consent of the Kogi State Government.

We are not in a banana Republic. Ours is a Federal Republic of Nigeria. I can describe the action of declaring Bello wanted and persecution ongoing as meddlesome interlopping. Nobody is above the law, yes, but the tools of the law must be deployed with requisite jurisdiction.

The appearance of Bello at EFCC yesterday with his state Governor is a prove that the state is not in support of such action by EFCC, therefore I see action of EFCC on Bello as self-serving venture and political witch-hunt which may create a constitutional crisis in nigeria if care and caution is not applied.

For instance, if Kogi state has set up a panel to investigate the government of Bello and the report is not ready, it means any action by EFCC is premature….Crying more than the bereaved is lawlessness and no legal system can condone such. I don’t support crime,fraud and corruption, I am a certified fraud Examiner which the EFCC Chairman is as well. Before a CFE gets involved in any matter he must be properly briefed. A state is independent as a federation unit.

A state is an entity of its own, it is not subject to the whims and caprices of federal government especially on a matter of corruption, stealing, embezzlement and fraud which are under Concurrent and Residual lists. Every branch of government is clothed with jurisdiction to deal as it relates to it. You must have the locus and clothed with jurisdiction to take certain steps.

ALSO READ: EFCC, Yahaya Bello and selective prosecution

Some people may not like Bello and want him incarcerated due to rascally manner they perceived he ruled Kogi, but there are huge differences between law, morality, public opinion and what you think. Any public officer should be probed, but such probe must accord with rule of law. Rule of law is more preferable to rule of men.

EFCC should forward all the petitions they got to Kogi state Government as a suggestion and recommendation and allow Kogi state to lawfully engage them with petition to enable them act lawfully. If not, I am of the considered view they are on a self serving mission and the law frowns as using public institutions for personal scores. If you want peace today, just work for justice and rule of law.

Yahaya Bello is not my ideal Governor, but I don’t support unlawful actions.