By joshua 
EFCC Drama: In Defence Of Former Gov. Bello Yahaya Bello
Ajayi Gbenga Daniel
Although corruption is a has eaten deep into the country’s moral fibre with its attendance negative impacts on the nation’s development and growth, Nigeria has become an underachiever considering its potentials to be a global player.
Over the years, there has been a growing consensus on the need to fight the scourge and government on its part has in recent times been making efforts to combat it and one of the ways to curb it is the setting up of the Economic, Financial and other Crimes Commission (EFCC).
By its design and by the intention of the government, EFCC has been primed to deal with graft where and whenever it occur in the country but over two decades after coming on board, the expectations of the Nigerians has been dashed owing to the fact that the commission has become a tool to witch hunt political opponents.
On case that comes to mind is that of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who has been a subject of drama and tool for witch hunt by some powerful elements outside the commission who have been utilizing (EFCC) as a witch hunting tool.
This can be said to be true considering the reported drama the commission has orchestrated in its quest to bring the former governor to book for a case that it has not in anyway established against him which has remained phantom when we can see that the commission has not come forward with any known charge against him.
Rather than arrest and prosecute him if it has any known case against the former Governor, the EFCC has been carrying out mere media trial and not actual intention to charge him as prescribed by the law establishing the commission.
If the commission is not carrying a commando style operation of arresting and whisking him away despite a subsisting court order retraining it from doing so, it would make Bello sit endlessly whenever he (Bello) showed up at its secretariat and later tried to kidnap the former governor from his house at night the same day when Bello was asked to go.
For those who don’t know, Bello indeed managed the finances of the state to the best of his ability and knowledge and this has earned him accolades from important institutions both within and outside the country such as the Kogi State House of Assembly, the institution saddled with the task of over sighting the activities of the executive arm of government.
Precisely on February 2, 2017, the Assembly during plenary passed a confidence vote on Bello citing his numerous developmental strides that had taken place under his watch as well as the manner he managed the finances of the state during his eight years tenure.
The Assembly repeated the same in March 14. The motion was sponsored by Hon. Bello Hassan Abdullahi (APC Ajaokuta) and it was unanimously adopted by the entire House without any whimper of opposition.
The World Bank has commended Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi for refunding $4.63 million surplus funds under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
The World Bank commended Bello in a letter of appreciation signed by its Regional Director, Shubham Chaudhuri, describing the step as a sign of good leadership.
According to the World Bank, the action by the Governor has made it possible for the organisation to extend its projects to other states facing deficit funds and to extend the closing date of its projects.
Part of the letter reads “I am writing to convey my sincere appreciation for the transfer to Plateau State of the surplus project funds, amounting to USD 4.63 million, that was available in the State’s NEWMAP Designated Account.
Commendation also came the way of the former Governor from the World Bank who praised him and his government for refunding $4.63 million surplus funds under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
The World Bank commended Bello in a letter of appreciation described the step as a sign of good leadership, maintain that the former Governor made it possible for the organisation to extend its projects to others states of the federation facing deficit funds and to extend the closing date of its projects.
Apart from these, former Governor Bello received similar other commendations from reputation institutions on the manner he ruled the state during his two term regime.
While not in any way impeding the EFCC from performing its duties of stamping out corruption from the country, I join other concerned Nigerians to call on the anti-graft agency to employ civility, decorum and professionalism in the discharge of its duties and not this uncivilized approach, Nigeria is not a Banana Republic.