Daniel Bwala, a former spokesman for the defunct Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, has criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for declaring ex-Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, wanted.
Bwala argued that the EFCC already had the necessary means to arrest Bello, making the declaration unnecessary. He questioned why the EFCC did not handle Bello’s case in the same manner as it did with former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.
The EFCC had declared Bello wanted due to allegations of money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion. In a bid to apprehend him, the anti-graft agency even considered involving the Nigerian Army.
However, their attempts to arrest the former governor during a raid on his residence in Abuja were unsuccessful. Bello’s successor, Governor Usman Ododo, intervened and helped him evade arrest.
As a result, the EFCC was left with no choice but to declare Bello wanted, as his whereabouts remained unknown.
Bwala expressed his disbelief at the EFCC’s actions, suggesting that the agency and Bello might be engaged in some sort of simulation for a movie about the EFCC and former governors.
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He argued that the press statement labeling Bello as “wanted” was unnecessary, considering that the EFCC had already been to his residence to effect an arrest. Bwala pointed out that the EFCC failed to apply the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) or take similar actions as they did with Okorocha.
He also highlighted that the EFCC knew who had whisked Bello away but allowed it to happen. Bwala further emphasized that both Bello and the incumbent governor have security details from the police and State Security Service (SSS) who are responsible for reporting the activities and whereabouts of their VIPs to their respective commands.
Therefore, Bello’s whereabouts should not be hidden. Bwala criticized the EFCC for not utilizing the surveillance instruments available to the police and SSS for geo-tracking and geo-locating Bello.
He concluded by urging the EFCC to do their job without unnecessary dramatization and to fulfill their responsibilities.
