Leaders across board, including traditional rulers political and other leaders, have risen in unison to confirm obvious threat to the life of ex Governor Yahaya Bello, suspecting agents of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
“As a result of this, we want to say categorically that there is a confirmed threat to the life of our son and we no longer have confidence in the EFCC to prosecute the ongoing case.”
These were contained in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, dated September 23. The letter was signed by the chairman of Kogi State Traditional Council and Attah of Igala, Matthew Opaluwa; the Vice Chairman and Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tijani Mohammed Anaje; the Ohimege Igu of Koton-Karfe Kingdom, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu; Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, the Obaro of Kabba; Williams Keke, the Aguma of Bassa Land and Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho, representing Kogi East.
Others are Hon. Aliu Umar Yusuf, Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly; Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims, Deputy Majority Leader, House of Representatives; Hon. Leke Abejide, Former Gubernatorial Candidate of ADC in the 2023 governorship election in Kogi State; Hon. Muhammed Tijani Ozigi, Member, House of Representatives, representing Okene/Ogori-Magongo; Hon. Comfort Egwoba, the Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly and Hon. Matthew Kolawole, former Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly.
Others who signed the open letter to the President are Hon (Alh) Kabiru Ajanah, the Madaki of Ebira Land and former member, House of Representatives. He is also the Assistant National Auditor of the Arewa Consultative Forum; Hajiya Ladi Ibrahim, former SSG, Kogi State and pioneer Chairman, Financial Reporting Council; Alhaji Abdulmalik Attah, Waziri of Ebira Land; Barrister Halima I. Alfa Ph.D, former Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Kogi State.
The open letter goes thus:
23rd September, 2024
Your Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Your Excellency,
PERSECUTION OF FORMER GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE, ALHAJI YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO
We are compelled to write this open letter to you, our dynamic President, in the light of the recent worrisome activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which if not checked, could cast a dent on the noble intentions of Your Excellency, with regard to the fight against corruption and, indeed, the wellbeing of the Nigerian economy as a whole.
It is a fact that no society thrives without an effective framework against corruption, and we, as responsible citizens of Nigeria, fully support the fight against corruption in the interest of all.
We, however, frown at a situation where the activities of an agency saddled with this all-important task paint an embarrassing picture that conflicts with acceptable standards.
Despite the fact that the initial siege on the residence of our son, the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was against the rule of law, because this happened at a time he had a valid court order prohibiting such, we did not interfere in the matter. We relied on the fact that legal battles were on and that the truth would be revealed at the end.
The event of Wednesday, 18th September, 2023 was, however, one that could not be ignored.
The former governor had been declared wanted in April, in curious circumstances, with his fundamental human rights and that of his family violated in the most unfair manner. He was placed on watchlist, among other actions.
After the EFCC finally vacated the same order they had ignored initially, a few weeks ago, he decided to voluntarily submit himself for interrogation on Wednesday while still pursuing the enforcement of his fundamental human rights in the courts. But the EFCC turned this into a condemnable drama that has been greeted with serious outrage across the country.
How would one explain a situation where an agency that declared the former governor wanted and even involved Interpol in the search for him told him to go after waiting for four hours in their premises? The same agency sent out an official statement a few minutes later, saying former governor Yahaya Bello was not in its custody and remained wanted!
The EFCC did not stop at that. Its operatives invaded the Kogi State Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, at night, shooting sporadically and attempting to force their way in. This is a condemnable act in all ramifications in a democracy.
The EFCC explained publicly that the former governor was not interrogated or detained when he came to their headquarters because the incumbent, Alhaji Usman Ododo, was with him at the time of his visit. This explanation was quashed by the unprovoked attack on the Kogi Government Lodge to forcefully arrest a man who had visited their office in the morning and waited for four hours to be interrogated. The same sitting governor who was with him was in the Lodge.
Mr. President, this connotes more than the fight against corruption and the majority of our people have termed this action as an assasination attempt on the former governor.
As a result of this, we want to say categorically that there is a confirmed threat to the life of our son and we no longer have confidence in the EFCC to prosecute the ongoing case.
Mr. President, your renewed hope agenda, when introduced at the advent of your administration, was welcomed by all and sundry across party lines, geographical affiliations and most importantly by all our citizens who saw it as a vehicle to lead us to our rightful place in the comity of nations.
We appreciate your magic wand, which, though made up of some bitter but necessary pills, is gradually taking us out of the wilderness. But we want to stress that the modus operandi of the EFCC in its fight against corruption needs to be reviewed if we must achieve our collective goals as a nation. Currently, it is counter-productive.
Mr. President, our son’s life is endangered. We are convinced that you are a democrat who is committed to making Nigeria work for Nigerians and not for a few. Your laudable achievements in this short period, against all odds, attest to this. This must not be dented by the perception of persecution being vividly portrayed by the EFCC in its case against our son.
We plead with you to call the EFCC to order at this juncture. The game being played by the agency has become a national embarrassment.
LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT
LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Signed:
*His Royal Majesty, Atta Matthew Opaluwa, the Attah of Igala.
*His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tijani Mohammed Anaje, SA‘AKI, the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land.
*His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu, the Ohimege Igu of Koton-Karfe
Kingdom.
*His Royal Majesty, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, the Obaro of Kabba.
*His Royal Majesty Williams Keke, the Aguma of Bassa Land.
*Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho, Senator representing Kogi East.
*Hon. Aliu Umar Yusuf, Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly.
*Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims, Deputy Majority Leader, House of Representatives.
*Hon. Leke Abejide, Former Gubernatorial Candidate of ADC in the 2023 governorship election in Kogi State.
*Hon. Muhammed Tijani Ozigi, Member, House of Representatives, representing Okene/Ogori-Magongo.
*Hon. Comfort Egwoba, the Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly.
*Hon. Matthew Kolawole, former Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly.
*Hon (Alh) Kabiru Ajanah, the Madaki of Ebira Land and former member, House of Representatives.
Asst National Auditor Arewa Consultative Forum.
*Hajia Ladi Ibrahim, former SSG, Kogi State,
Pioneer Chairman, Financial Reporting Council.
*Alhaji Abdulmalik Attah, Waziri of Ebira Land.
*Barr. Halima I. Alfa Ph.D, former Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Kogi State; former Director, SURE-P; former ANPP National Financial Secretary, current Board of Trustee Member, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).
