Yahaya Bello: CSOs condemn EFCC's invasion of Kogi gov's lodge in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has come under intense criticism following its controversial invasion of the Kogi Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

The incident, which occurred on September 18, has been condemned by civil society groups, who describe it as a clear assassination and coup attempt, as well as a desecration of government authority and civil liberty.

According to eyewitnesses, the EFCC allegedly mobilised unknown faces to the Governor’s Lodge, leading to a gun battle with security personnel. The commission had earlier declared former Governor Yahaya Bello wanted without sending him an invite.

Bello voluntarily submitted himself to the EFCC on September 18 but was asked to leave without being interrogated. Hours later, the commission allegedly invaded the Governor’s Lodge.

Reacting, a group under the auspices of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Defence of Democracy condemned the invasion while demanding the immediate resignation of EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

In a statement co-signed by Oluwasegun Emmanuel (Convener of the Coalition) and Oguche Benjamin (Secretary of the Coalition) on Saturday, the group demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged invasion amongst other resolutions.

“We are more worried that just on Wednesday, September 18, former Governor Yahaya Bello voluntarily submitted himself to the commission to provide answers to whatever he was being sought for, to the greatest surprise of the former governor and those who were in his entourage, he was asked to go home, without being interrogated.

“Unfortunately and most disgustingly, just few hours after he was asked to go, the commission allegedly mobilized unknown faces, to the Governor’s lodge in Asokoro, invaded that significant symbol of authority in the name of searching for a man they had few hours ago told to go home. This act is nothing but an attempt to assassinate the Governor and overthrow constitutionally recognized government of Kogi state.

“For us, this is also a pointer to an attempt to eliminate the former governor just to cover up its inefficiencies and failure to diligently pursue the anti-corruption agenda.

“Again, why was the governor’s lodge made a war zone by EFCC and its hired mercenaries, firing life bullets to a government facility just to arrest an ordinary citizen?

“For us, this is a sheer violation of all known human right laws, a rape on civil liberty and indeed a demonstration that our human rights profile has descended all time low especially in the security sector.

“We are surprised that till this moment, instead of explaining to the entire world why it asked a man they declared wanted who freely turned himself in to go, the commission that has lost whatever credibility it had in the past has resorted to illegality and extreme violation under the disguise of trying to arrest a citizen. We must emphasize that this is an assassination attempt.

“At the moment, there is no clue on the whereabouts of former governor Yahaya Bello. Nothing has been heard of him and this has put his family and numerous supporters in panic mood. We ask again, where is Yahaya Bello?

“A nation that prides itself as the bastion of human rights should not be seen to be in romance with this level of violation which the EFCC has perpetrated in the name of corruption fight.

“The goodwill the commission enjoyed in the past has been completely eroded and finally hit its very lowest under the leadership of Ola Olukoyede who appears to be pursuing a sinister agenda.

“For the avoidance of doubt, an accused person should be alive to defend whatever allegation leveled against him, but what we see under this commission is a desperate attempt to silence people through highly unconventional means.

“We, therefore, demand immediate probe of this ugly incident by the relevant National Assembly committees supervising the institution of EFCC,” the statement partly read.

ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE