Yahaya Bello

A political group, the C5(64), based in Kogi State with representatives from the five local governments and the 64 wards of Okunland, Kogi West Senatorial District and over 1,280 members on Tuesday rose in support of the former governor with a call for fair hearing in his current travails with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

The group coordinator, Hon Philip Olusesan Orebiyi, a former member of Kogi State House Assembly, who spoke with The Guardian, stated in part: “I cannot be against the trial of anyone, including Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for corruption. But let all factors, including fair hearing; respect for human rights; establishment of a prima facie case that would not result in huge costs for prosecution, years of going in and out of courts, and which ends up in awards of judgment cost against the EFCC and by extension the Federal Government.

Philip Olusesan Orebiyi, Coordinator C5 (64) Group

“As the convener of the C5(64) group, I condemn any brute and sensational arrest of a suspect such as Bello. It does not matter the station of life of such suspect, whether high or low. It is in this context that we believe the Commissions tactics in attempting to arrest Bello ought to be situated. While no one quarrels with the Commissions full mandate to tackle economic crimes, the way and manner in which it does so must however, not portray any impunity or suggest that it is above the law. After all, the Commissions motto is No one is above the Law.

This submission on media trial has been tacitly corroborated by the Commissions Chairman, very hard working and dedicated Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, who stated, in a now-viral video, that the former Governor of Kogi State declined to come to the agencys office because he complained that a female Senator had allegedly gathered journalists together to humiliate him anytime he appeared in the office of the agency for interrogation. Obviously, Bello was scared of media trial; so he avoided it. The evils of media trial are galore.

“The judgment delivered by the High Court of Kogi State on April 17, 2024, finally vindicated Yahaya Bello on this issue as the court pointedly held. Kogi State has been held spellbound by the ongoing public judgments which are affecting the running of government and the psychological peace of the communities. Kogi is by this case been talked down at by those who don’t know the details of the issues involved. We want to appeal to EFCC to consider the plight of other Kogites”.

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