A group, the Forum of Amalgamated Unions of Concerned Kogi Citizens, has called on president Ahmed Bola Tinubu to caution the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC ) Olukoyode to ensure that professionalism is applied in the ongoing prosecution of Former Governor Yahaya Bello, instead of resulting to persecution and media trial.
The group who stated this, during a press conference in Lokoja, titled “Prosecution Or Persecution: A Case of Yahaya Bello and EFCC, noted that the EFCC’S action is seen to be politically motivated because of the unprofessional ways the agency is handling the Former Governor’s case.
The leader of the group David Ehimony, while warning about the negative consequences of the action of the EFCC on Nigeria image, he maintained that the agency should stop further unjust persecution, harassment and intimidation of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON and the good people of Kogi State.
The group also called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to checkmate the shopping of judgements and granting of conflicting injunctions by some Judges handling corruption cases, which the group said is creating a bad image for the Judiciary
The statement read in part said,
“We call on His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to come to our aid. The same Former Governor Yahaya Bello made sacrifices and challenged vested interests by insisting on the APC Presidential primary election to elect APC candidate in 2023. Without this primary election, Mr President might not have been President today based on conspiracies against his candidature.
“The President should come to our aid in ensuring that professionalism is applied to the prosecution of Former Governor Yahaya Bello, instead oongoing persecution as we have noticed the hands of Jacob and Voice of Esau in the scheme of things.
“We are very much concerned about the persecution, intimidation and harassment of Yahaya Bello because as a Governor, he worked in collaboration with various security agencies, tackled insecurity frontally and made our dear state one of the most secure states in the country. We cannot turn our backs on such a leader who has left lasting legacies in the annals of our dear state.
“We are also calling on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to checkmate the shopping of judgements and granting of conflicting injunctions by some Judges handling corruption cases.
“If the harassment of our leaders go unabated, the People of Kogi state might be forced to make a statement. With our strategic and historical position in Nigeria, bounded by 9 states and the FCT, linking Southern Nigeria to Northern Nigeria, our statement will be very loud.
“We demand that our people be treated with dignity and honour deserving of human beings in the candor of other Nigerians.
“The EFCC should stop further persecution, harassment and intimidation of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON and the good people of Kogi State.
