It appears that some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are at loggerheads over the impasse between ex-Governor of Kogi State, Alaji Yahaya Bello and the anti-graft agency, Economics and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC has alleged Alhaji Yahaya Bello of involving in money laundering and/or some other financial crimes when he was the Governor of Kogi State.
This follows when the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), an anti-corruption organization, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mr. Adeola Ajayi, to enforce a court order against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The group expressed concern over the persistent disregard for the rule of law.
HEDA noted that despite valid court orders from both a Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal mandating Bello’s arrest and presentation for trial, he continues to evade justice, allegedly receiving protection from law enforcement agencies.
A Federal High Court Judge ordered Bello’s arrest in April 2024, a directive reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal in August 2024. However, reports indicate that he has been shielded from arrest, undermining the judiciary’s authority.
The statement read, “HEDA strongly condemns this apparent protection of a fugitive and demands that the Nigeria Police Force and DSS immediately stop obstructing justice. We call for the immediate arrest of Mr. Yahaya Bello so that he can face the charges against him in court.
“The continued defiance of court orders not only undermines the integrity of our judiciary but also erodes public trust in our law enforcement institutions. The Nigeria Police Force and Department of Secret Service (DSS) must fulfil their constitutional duties and ensure that justice prevails and stop presenting the government as lacking in leadership and coordination,” Suraju added.
However, HEDA expects both the Nigeria Police Force and the DSS to act swiftly and in accordance with the law they swore to defend.
In twist of event and varying point, a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has slammed HEDA, arguing that their demand is hypocritical, given the EFCC’s inaction.
In a statement released on Thursday, the coalition described HEDA’s demand as a “display of egregious ignorance” and an “insidious disregard for the rule of law.” They argued that Bello had voluntarily cooperated with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by visiting their headquarters to address the allegations against him.
Led by spokesperson Comrade Olufemi Lawson, the CSOs emphasized that the real issue was the EFCC’s inaction rather than Bello’s refusal to cooperate. The statement criticized HEDA for ignoring the EFCC’s failure to act and called the demand for a forceful arrest hypocritical.
The coalition expressed concern that HEDA’s actions undermine the judicial process, noting that Bello’s case is still being addressed in several courts, including the Supreme Court. They further accused HEDA of fostering “executive lawlessness” and alleged that the group’s pressure tactics had contributed to the dismissal of former EFCC chairman Abdul Rasheed Bawa by President Bola Tinubu.
The group called on the newly appointed EFCC chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, to resist pressure from organizations like HEDA that could potentially derail ongoing anti-corruption efforts. The CSOs reiterated their commitment to ensuring that justice is pursued through legal and transparent means, rejecting what they termed “sensationalist calls for unlawful arrests.”
The statement concluded with a warning that the coalition would expose any attempts by individuals or groups to misuse civil society organizations to erode public trust in the anti-corruption movement. The press release was signed by several prominent leaders, including Dr. Dapo Oluwole of the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) and Comrade Declan Ihekhaire of Activists for Good Governance.
Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja has, however, adjourned the alleged money laundering trial to October 30th, following the appeal of Alhaji Yahaya Bello at the Supreme Court, seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.