By Otori Ozigi.
The point must be made at this juncture that I’m not here to hold brief for the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello for any of his actions or inactions.
However,I have considered it pertinent to give my perspective on the way EFCC is presently going about the litigation against the former governor at a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The whole melodramatic trial leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
There is no gainsaying that there is more to the ongoing persecution of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello by the EFCC, than meet the eyes and comprehension of every right thinking general public.
True, the former governor have suffered outright undeserved persecution and media trial in the hands of EFCC more than any other former Political Office holder or Public Servant in recent history.
The way EFCC is going about the whole case have raised many fundamental questions begging for answers.
First,we were told that he committed an infraction in 2015,a time that clearly predates his assumption of office in January 27,2016.
How did the former governor become a thiefing celestial force that would steal a whooping N80b from the coffers of then government of Capt.Idris Ichalla Wada?
Here is a man that has never had any business relationship with the government of Capt.Wada before he assumed office in January 27,2016 as the 4th Executive Governor of Kogi State.
Another disturbing concoction of EFCC in it’s amended charge sheets was that Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello is ‘at large “when it has been established that he is yet to be invited by the anti-graft agency in the first place.
The natural question that becomes imperative at this juncture is that what is the driving force and motive behind the desperate attempt by the agency to smear and disparage the image of the former governor?
Who is afraid of GYB?
Essentially,if EFCC has any evidence of any fraud against the former governor,it behooves on the agency to follow the rule of law and due process and abandon this ignominious act of persecution and needless media trial of GYB.
It is becoming laughable and doing a great damage to the ongoing war against corruption by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The present leadership of EFCC should be very careful not to allow any forces from within or outside to drag the image of the agency to a new low.
The time has come for a new reorientation and reengineering at the anti-graft agency.
Otori Ozigi, a veteran journalist and PR Consultant, writes from Okene, Kogi State.
