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…Wants NJC’s Intervention to Save Judiciary

Amid the ensuing drama between the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a group, the Northern Initiative for the Defence of Democracy and Justice has urged President Bola Tinubu to call the former governor to order, accusing Alhaji Bello of undermining institutions of the state.

According to a statement jointly signed by the President of the group, Ambassador Nurudeen Sadiq, and the Secretary, Hajia Ramatu AbdulRahaman, Ex-Governor Bello is not above the laws of Nigeria.

The group equally appealed to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to wade into alleged attempts by the former governor to ruin the image of the judiciary.

“Ex-Governor Bello is not above the laws of Nigeria, as such, he should be fished or flushed out from his hideout and made to face the law to serve as deterrent to his co travelers.

“The underlining fact is that the citizens of the state have the right to know how their collective wealth was spent, and the governor is under the mandate of the law to explain how he distributed their wealth.

“We stand to say at this junction, that if nothing tangible is done about the antics of ex-governor Bello, it can be well said ‘we are gradually taking the road to Kigali’, because of its envisaged spiral effect.

“On the basis of this, we urge President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to call Yahaya Adoza Bello to order and put him where he belongs before his antics collapse our much-cherished democracy.

“We also appeal to the Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC), to as a matter of urgency, wade in and nip in the bud the move by the ex-governor to bring the judiciary of this nation into disrepute,” the group said.

Citing instances when some former governors, public office holders and other prominent Nigerians, including those in private sector were dragged before the law to explain their stewardship while in office, the group said, “Alhaji Yahaya Bello cannot be treated as a sacred cow, for he that aspire to the hall of equity must be seen with clean hands. We know what he did and stand for while holding leadership mantle in the state.”

“The group also hailed the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede over his recent statement vowing to resign his appointment if he failed to prosecute the former Kogi State governor over alleged monumental corruption to its logical conclusion.

“That statement shows that there is a ray of hope in the horizon, that no one can divert public funds and go scot-free. We hereby commend the EFCC boss for his tenacity of purpose and for his efforts in calling a spade by its name and moving against the ex-governor,” the group noted.