Crime
Bello Must Have His Day In Court – EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has categorically stated that, “a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello had made several unsuccessful attempts to throw spanners in his ongoing trial through some irresponsible and utterly rascally efforts.”
This was disclosed in a statement on its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Thursday, where it declared that “The appropriate place of surrender would be before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, before whom his legal team had undertaken to produce him to answer to the 18-count charges of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.”
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According to the EFCC, Bello should be more interested in clearing his name than playing the victim and crying persecution, where none exists.
To even insinuate that he was the target of a phantom assassination attempt because the EFCC made efforts to effect his arrest at the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge where he had been hiding, is preposterous. It is the first time in the Commission’s more than two decades existence that such a jejune claim would be made. This is no more than scaremongering, intended to scandalise the Commission.
But the EFCC is not deterred by this, and other shenanigans by the ex-governor. The Commission remains committed to ensuring that the law takes its course in the money laundering charges already filed against Yahaya Bello in Court.
The EFCC is eager to engage the former governor in the courtroom where the avalanche of evidence so painstakingly assembled can be presented and arguments marshalled for justice to be served to all parties involved in this saga.
“The true test of Yahaya Bello’s willingness to abide by the law in the criminal proceedings instituted against him at the Federal High Court Abuja by the EFCC is to present himself to the court in obedience to the order of Justice Nwite. His presence in court is the only step that will convince Nigerians that his touted submission to the EFCC which was widely reported in the media on September 18, was not a stunt”, the statement added.
It noted that Bello was yet to take his plea in the alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges preferred against him before Justice Nwite. His invasion of the corporate headquarters of the Commission with a retinue of security details, hand-to-hand cahoots and carriage with a sitting governor having immunity, unwarranted media blitz, scripted sleight of hands unknown to the public and other backend intelligence available to the Commission, compelled a tactical rebuff of his touted surrender offer.
The incident of Wednesday, September 18, 2024, regarding the orchestrated antics of the former governor to surrender himself to the EFCC, having denied being invited by the Commission and operating underground as a fugitive for several months, expectedly raised concerns and curiosity of many Nigerians who had been waiting frantically for his arrest and trial.
As a responsible anti-graft agency, the EFCC is sensitive to public opinions, especially if they are in tandem with its operational codes and Standard Operating Procedures. However, no hysteria, blackmail, sentiment or coordinated attacks in some section of the media would make the Commission compromise its integrity.
“Yahaya Bello’s matter cannot define the success or failure of the works of the EFCC, as the scorecard of the Commission is remarkable and undeniably impressive.
“The EFCC is not unaware of the fact that corruption fights back. Bello must have his day in court, no matter the recourse to blackmail, appeal to emotive public sympathy or acts of brigandage.
“Within the year, the Commission had arraigned three former ministers, two ex-governors, several top government officials, captains of industries, internet fraudsters and many more would be arraigned in due course. Every former governor, minister, head of ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs being investigated by the Commission would soon be charged to court”, it added.
The EFCC is not running a circus show. Corruption issues should not be turned into a theatre of the absurd. Those who harbor a criminal suspect should know that the act is also a criminal offence which is also punishable in law.
While the EFCC is assuring the public of its unfaltering focus and commitment to continue to tackle every issue of economic and financial crime without fear or favour, there is need to remind Nigerians that corruption does fight back and caution and restraint should always be exercised in responding to the operational mechanics and dynamics of the Commission. The EFCC would continue with its no sacred cow policy, no matter whose ox is gored.
In a show of support, controversial figure Martins Otse, also known as, VeryDarkMan, has celebrated the suspension of two officers by the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS).
He disclosed this in a video posted via his Facebook page on Thursday.
This suspension follows serious allegations made by popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, widely recognized as Bobrisky against the NCoS and the EFCC.
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Bobrisky claimed that he had bribed EFCC operatives with N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him and that he had also attempted to bribe NCoS officials to evade imprisonment.
Expressing his satisfaction with the minister’s actions, VeryDarkMan stated, “The honorable minister of interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, you have proven yourself to me before, and I was just relaxed watching. And boom, you did it again with the suspension of some officers that might be involved in this whole Bobrisky saga.”
He praised the minister’s commitment to improving Nigeria, adding that they are working together to create positive change.
He added, “much love Egbon it’s a fight to make Nigeria a better place and we will definitely make it a better place with our own little efforts, keep that fire burning, we have picked each others brains and I believe in you for now because as a politician you fit go change tomorrow so for now you are the guy, GOD BLESS YOU,I love you Egbon.”
Concerns over the management of correctional facilities have prompted the Federal Government to suspend key officials at the Maximum and Minimum Custodial Centres in Kirikiri, Lagos State.
This decision follows the emergence of an audio leak that raises serious questions about the treatment of convicted individuals within the correctional system.
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Ja’afaru Ahmed, the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), announced the suspensions in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja.
The controversy centers around Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, who was sentenced to six months in prison for a crime but reportedly received special treatment, including access to an apartment outside the facility.
The allegations prompted Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to initiate an investigation on Wednesday.
Ahmed assured that the suspension of the officers aims to ensure a thorough inquiry into the matter, with the findings set to be made public once the investigation is concluded.
He said; “Following the viral video trending on social media on alleged infractions by Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service relating to Mr. Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has suspended forthwith the following Senior Officers of the Service.
“Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State; and Sikiru Adekunle, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of Maximum-Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State.
“Also, the Board has suspended ASC II Ogbule Samuel Obinna, serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Afikpo, Ebonyi State, for allegedly accompanying a convicted inmate out of the Custodial Centre to a location outside the facility.
“In another related development, the Board has equally suspended another Senior Officer of the Service, Iloafonsi Kevin Ikechukwu, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kuje- Abuja, for allegedly receiving monies on behalf of an inmate.”
In the midst of a heated defamation controversy involving human rights lawyer Femi Falana and social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, another notable legal figure has stepped in.
Public interest lawyer Inibehe Effiong has critiqued VeryDarkMan’s handling of the matter, pointing out key legal missteps in his approach.
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In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Effiong took issue with VeryDarkMan’s understanding of libel law.
He remarked, “Saying that you expected Femi Falana to write to Bobrisky and not you, who actually published the defamatory matter, is just a demonstration of your acute lack of knowledge of the law of libel.”
He stressed that VeryDarkMan’s personal remarks and his involvement in sharing defamatory audio held him legally responsible.
“Even if you intend to argue fair comment in court, your personal, prejudicial statements weaken your case. Emotion and the law are separate matters,” Effiong continued.
He further clarified that defamation could still be actionable even without directly naming individuals, provided society can reasonably infer the identity of the person being defamed.
“If reasonable and right-thinking members of society can deduce from your statement who the defamatory remarks were targeting, and if this lowers the public’s opinion of that individual, you are legally liable,” Effiong explained.
The controversy erupted after VeryDarkMan shared an audio implicating Femi Falana’s son, rapper Folarin Falana (known as Falz), in a conversation involving Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky.
In the recording, Bobrisky allegedly claimed that, after his sentencing in April for defacing naira notes, his godfather, with the help of the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.
Bobrisky also purportedly stated that Falz and his father, Falana, had contacted him, offering to secure a Federal Government pardon for ₦10 million.
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