The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been advised by Isaac Onuh, a former Nigerian ambassador to Botswana, to immediately stop the alleged “macabre dance” being used against Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, in the name of combating corruption.
This request was made by Ambassador Onuh during a Friday interview with reporters in Lokoja.
Former congressman and ambassador Onuh cautioned the anti-corruption agency to cease its illegal tactics of reportedly intimidating and harassing the former governor for exercising his unalienable right to run for president in 2023.
He stated his opinion that Bello’s aspirations to become president may have prompted his rivals to use the anti-graft agency to discredit him and damage the reputation he had built up during his two terms as Kogi State governor.
“After serving the state with diligence and merit for eight years, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, deserves a measure of respect and decorum from government agencies, including the EFCC,” he said.
According to Ambassador Onuh, the EFCC has harmed itself by falsely proclaiming him wanted and making unsupported and unverified claims of financial misconduct.
He added that the EFCC continued its public allegations against the former governor, whom he claimed was recognized by international monetary agencies for prudent and frugal management of state funds.
Onuh elaborated, saying, “The EFCC has continued to embarrass him through media trials, which highlight the agency’s misuse of its powers.”
“Nigeria, as a federation, has guiding principles in its relationships with sub-national entities, whose autonomy is guaranteed by the 1999 constitution, as amended, and should be respected by all federal agencies, including the EFCC.”
“Kogi State, as a political and legal entity, is governed by laws established by its House of Assembly, which created the State Anti-Corruption Commission. This commission has consistently given former Governor Bello and his administration a clean slate over his eight years in office.”
Ambassador Onuh contended that the EFCC acted outside its lawful mandate when it declared former Governor Bello wanted.
“When Governor Ododo and former Governor Bello went to the EFCC headquarters, officials declined to receive them and instead staged a ‘commando operation’ at the Kogi State liaison office in Abuja, seemingly to embarrass them.”
He noted that Chief Olisa Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), recently wrote to the Deputy Senate President, calling for “Urgent Legislative Attention on Constitutional Reforms Relating to Law Enforcement Agencies and Anti-Corruption Efforts.”
According to Onuh, the former governor has been the target of alleged persecution for far too long, and the EFCC’s efforts appear to be intended to degrade him without cause.
“19 state governors have approached the Supreme Court to examine the constitutionality of the laws establishing the Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in response to the EFCC’s actions against one of their own,” the former ambassador to Botswana added.
As a democrat and supporter of the rule of law, he urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to uphold the country’s legal system in order to protect Nigeria’s standing abroad.
