In a bold statement, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has pledged to step down if former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is not prosecuted.
The anti-graft chairman, speaking at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja, affirmed the agency’s commitment to pursuing the case against Bello despite legal hurdles and resistance.
Olukoyede emphasized that those hindering Bello’s arrest will face consequences, as the EFCC remains resolute in its mission to combat corruption.
The agency is pushing for Bello’s arraignment on charges totaling N80.2 billion, including money laundering and misappropriation of funds.
Meanwhile, legal fireworks erupted as the EFCC served Bello’s lawyer with a copy of the charge sheet, following the former governor’s absence in court. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the lawyer to receive the charges, citing legal provisions for substituted service.
Bello’s legal team argued against the charges, questioning the legality of the EFCC and seeking to set aside the warrant of arrest. However, the EFCC countered, urging the court to uphold the arrest warrant until Bello appears for trial.
The unfolding legal saga underscores the determination of the EFCC to hold public officials accountable and sanitize the country’s governance landscape. As the case progresses, all eyes remain on the courts to ensure justice is served.