Yahaya Bello’s EFCC Ordeal Linked to Presidential Ambition, Former Ambassador Alleges

Former Nigerian ambassador to Botswana, Isaac Onuh, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to end what he describes as politically motivated actions against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. Speaking to journalists in Lokoja, Onuh claimed the EFCC’s recent moves against Bello stem from the former governor’s ambition to contest in the 2023 presidential election, an ambition Onuh believes has sparked a coordinated campaign to undermine Bello’s reputation.

Onuh, who also served as a lawmaker, alleged that the EFCC is deploying “unauthorized methods” to harass Bello, infringing upon his constitutional right to run for office. According to Onuh, political opponents have manipulated the anti-corruption body to weaken Bello’s standing ahead of any future ambitions, suggesting that his two-term tenure as governor demonstrated integrity that is now being unfairly tarnished.

“His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, deserves respect and decorum from agencies like the EFCC,” Onuh asserted, emphasizing that Bello governed Kogi State “diligently and meritoriously for eight years.” He criticized the EFCC for allegedly making unsubstantiated claims of financial misconduct against Bello and for “dubiously declaring him wanted.”

In recent weeks, the EFCC has ramped up allegations against Bello, a move Onuh says has left many of Bello’s supporters questioning the anti-graft agency’s impartiality. Onuh pointed to Bello’s track record, asserting that international monetary organizations have commended him for his management of Kogi State funds, a fact he says contradicts the EFCC’s accusations.

The former ambassador accused the EFCC of attempting a “media trial,” which he claims is more about public embarrassment than due process. He called for adherence to constitutional principles that protect Nigeria’s federal structure, noting that Kogi State’s Anti-Corruption Commission had, during Bello’s administration, consistently cleared the governor of wrongdoing.

Onuh also voiced concern over an incident in which EFCC officials allegedly refused to meet with Bello and current Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo at the agency’s headquarters, instead opting for what Onuh described as a “commando-style operation” at the state’s liaison office in Abuja. This, he said, was part of an orchestrated effort to humiliate the former governor.

He pointed to the recent involvement of Chief Olisa Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who wrote to the Deputy Senate President urging constitutional reforms to check the power of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC. Onuh believes these calls highlight a growing recognition of the need for legal frameworks to ensure fairness in anti-corruption efforts.

In solidarity with Bello, 19 Nigerian governors have reportedly petitioned the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the EFCC’s mandate, a move Onuh says underscores widespread concern over the agency’s actions.

Concluding, Onuh urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to instruct EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to operate within Nigeria’s legal parameters to safeguard the country’s reputation on the global stage.