Following the worrisome and externalised faceoff between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have opted for the need for the rule to take its course to the latter in the matter.
This was as it was gathered that President Tinubu was not prepared to temper with the huge gains recorded so far as in attracting foreign investors that are concerned with corruption as well as the potentials at play in concert with others by getting involved in the mess of Yahaya Bello, a former governor who has refused to submit himself to investigation before a government agency to clear himself of allegations of corruption while in office.
Presidency sources indicate that President Tinubu is not interested in providing any political shield particularly against the backdrop of the public spectacle at both local and international level that Yahaya Bello introduced into the entire saga.
According to the source; “The President’s stance is simple and it is what he has adopted in similar cases, let the rule of take its course. He won’t provide any political shield.
“Two of the Unique Selling Points (USPs) this administration is using to attract foreign investments is the fact that Nigeria is not a Banana Republic, that is, rule of law exists and is systematically tackling corruption.
Bello, the former governor of Kogi state has pointedly refused to honour the invitation by the EFCC over allegation of money laundering to the tune of N80.2Billion while in office from January 27, 2016 to January 27, 2024.
The 48years old Yahaya Bello narrowly escaped arrest by the whiskers on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 when operatives of the EFCC moved and surrounded his Abuja residence to effect a forceful arrest on the premise a warrant issued by an Abuja High Court.
However, Bello had insisted that a High Court of Kogi State restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting, detaining or prosecuting him.
Following its inability to arrest him, the EFCC took Bello to a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in absentia on Thursday, April 18, 2024 on the allegation of N80.2b money laundering and declared him wanted.
