By Stellamaries Amuwa, Abuja
A coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance (CCSGG) in collaboration with Kogi Conscience Liberation Movement (KCLM) has called on the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), and other agencies collaborate with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to make sure former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello appears in court.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the National Coordinator of CCSGG, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, said Nigerians and the people of Kogi State are becoming increasingly restless over the ongoing processes of the long-awaited prosecution of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, for an alleged 80.2bn naira fraud.
He said, it is important that our civil populace be reminded of the threat to our statehood that corruption poses, as it will impede our socio-economic and political progress in the country.
Jacob also acknowledged that unchecked corruption will reduce the confidence of potential foreign direct investors in our system, while on the other hand, it will enhance the confidence of officials intending to engage in corrupt practices as there is no action for deterrence.
He said, “We recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, 23rd April 2024, served the former Governor with his charges through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammed (SAN). This is over two months ago, and it seems Nigerians are becoming impatient and tired of the wrong signals regarding the government’s direction in the fight against corruption, as can be seen in the Kogi State case.
“With the great magnitude of spillover from corruption on the economy of Kogi State, the poverty level has become very high, which is inversely or directly correlated with the crime rate.
Civil servants have been reduced to beggars due to low income resulting from eight years of accumulated salary shortfalls. These are visible results of unchecked corruption.”
While commending the EFCC for their work, the National Coordinator of KCLM, Comrade Peter Onuwa, begged other security agencies to work with the EFCC to ensure Bello appears before the court at the next hearing.
He said, “We commend the efforts of the EFCC, but it is not enough. We urge them to do more, as Nigerians are losing hope in this fight against corruption. Citizens are already filled with doubt about what is actually going on with the issues concerning the EFCC and the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.”
“We call on the President, the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately ensure that the right things are being done within the shortest possible time, as pleaded by the citizens of Kogi State. Speaking on Bello’s comments about transferring his case to Kogi, Peter said, “Yahaya Bello advocating for his case to be transferred to Kogi State is indirectly trying to avoid the court process.”
