A call has been made by the Tinubu Media Support Group, TMSG, to the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, advising him to follow the suggestion of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, by cooperating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the judicial system.
The group emphasized the importance for Bello to address allegations of financial misconduct during his time in office.
In a statement released on Sunday and jointly signed by the Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and the Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, it was expressed that the current standoff between the ex-governor and the EFCC is unwarranted, viewing it as a challenge to the rule of law and the credibility of the government’s anti-corruption campaign.
The statement mentioned: “Observing closely the ongoing theatrics and manipulation surrounding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) summon to Governor Yahaya Bello, a prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and the questionable attempts to politicize the routine request for the former Governor Bello to engage with its investigators.”
“The intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, advising the former Kogi governor to subject himself to EFCC’s investigation, is a significant indicator not only of the legal standpoint but also of the Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to anti-corruption.”
“It should now be evident to all Nigerians that upholding strict accountability in governance is a fundamental aspect of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Since coming into power, his administration has demonstrated an absolute intolerance toward corruption cases.”
“Therefore, the EFCC’s action in summoning the former governor Yahaya Bello, akin to its handling of previous officials from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the recently serving Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, aligns with its principle and mission to cultivate a culture of transparency and responsibility in governance.”
The group emphasized that as a staunch member of the APC, Bello has no grounds for concern.
“We urge him to pay attention to the Attorney General’s counsel and make himself accessible to EFCC’s investigators as prescribed by the existing laws.”
“Furthermore, we advise members of the ruling party who have opposed the anti-graft agency’s actions to exercise caution in their response to the matter,” added the group.