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).

The traditional rulers, elders and stakeholders from Kogi state wrote an open letter to president Tinubu.

What do you think of this?

The clown EFCC chairman is using his office to settle personal problem with yahaya Bello

yarimo:
The clown EFCC chairman is using his office to settle personal problem with yahaya Bello

You sound like hypocrite with this your view. It is you that shows you have intrinsic hatred or personal issue or undisclosed religion bias to settle with the EFCC chairman. There is no sense in this your post, it shows you support corruption when it is against somebody you love like Yahya Bello. Why is Bello hiding and running away if he has a free mind and conscience that he never stole N80 bilion of Kogi money.

If EFCC has personal issue with Bello, why is Bello hiding, why can't he go to court to prove his innocence and charge EFCC for defamation and ask for damages to be paid to him? Have we not seen politicians that won against EFCC before? Why are you defending evil and corruption, and still shouting that government should fight corruption? When have you turned yourself to Yaya Bello advocate? Bello should stop running away.

Personal or no personal, Bello should go out to defend himself and prove that money did not enter or leave his account as EFFC alleges. N80 billion plus of Kogi money is too much when poor people plenty for kogi. Stop supporting evil when it swings to somebody you admire, personal or no personal, Bello should go to court to prove EFCC wrong, he should stop running and hiding, the honest man shall be bold like lion. If you know where Bello is hiding, tell him to go and challenge EFCC at court and ask for damages if EFCC is lying against him

yarimo:
The clown EFCC chairman is using his office to settle personal problem with yahaya Bello

Rag tag Boy will you shut up.
Let Yeye Bello go to EFCC alone not with Ododo his stooge.

Mr. President, please act on this letter.

The matter wey go settle, e no suppose make noise like this.