From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council and the Yoruba Youth Council have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to respect the subsisting court order and ensure that Democratic tenets are not jeopardized concerning the planned arrest of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
It could be recalled that the EFCC had in the past few days attempted to arrest the governor and thereafter declared him wanted, which Bello’s media handlers say was against an order of the Kogi State High Court, which granted injunction against the commission.
The planned arrest is argued to be contrary to a subsisting court order granted on February 9, 2024, by the Kogi State High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello Vs. EFCC, restraining the Commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining or prosecuting him, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.
However, the EFCC is said to have appealed the order in Appeal No.: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024, with the matter adjourned to the 22nd day of April 2024.
In separate statements made available to newsmen, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Ohaneaze Ndigbo Youth Council, Mr Chimaobi Ezejiofor and the President of the Yoruba Youth Council, Comrade Eric Oluwole both expressed curiousness as to why the EFCC could not wait to exhaust the legal opportunities before clamping down on Bello.
Ezejiofor said government agencies should be at the forefront of respect to the rule of law, stressing that “having submitted itself to the courts by filing an appeal as well as a stay of execution, one had expected that the EFCC should respect the process, but in this case, it chose to take laws into its hands.
The groups urged the commission to respect the sanctity of the courts by allowing the Appeal Court to determine the case one way or the other.
For Ohanaeze youths, “it is trite in law that once a matter is in court, both parties should maintain status quo until it is decided one way or the other. This is what we expect from the EFCC as an agency of government.
“The current action is tantamount to an assault on the rule of law and goes to show this could be a witch-hunt of some sort. Also, declaring the former governor wanted at this point over a matter that is before the Court of Appeal is not the right step to take. We, therefore, urge the Commission to enable the law to run its course and not be in haste to the extent of offending the laws.”
On their part, the Yoruba Youths said the EFCC must not jeopardize Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy in its attempt to arrest Bello over allegations of money laundering, adding that drafting the military to resolve civil, criminal, or whatever cases between Nigerians and government agencies in a democracy would be sending wrong signals about the nation’s commitment to the rule of law as applied in a Democracy.
Also, it cautioned the agency against taking the laws into its hands in a case that was already in court awaiting determination, adding that whatever the circumstances, the EFCC or any other government agencies should never be tempted to rely on the military in effecting the arrest of Nigerians under whatever guise, more so in a democracy
According to the statement: “As a responsible body, the EFCC, being a creation of the law under the Nigerian Constitution, is to invite or arrest any Nigerian for questioning in the course of performing its duties not in a hard way
“However, we do not support the threat on Thursday by the anti-graft agency to draft in the military in its effort to arrest Yahaya Bello, a former Governor of Kogi State, on a court order, over allegations of money laundering.
“While we urge the EFCC agency, should not be on the template of bringing in the military to arrest Nigerians no matter the provocation. The consequences of drafting in the military to handle ordinary civil, and even criminal cases in a democratic setting are unhealthy for our Democracy, the labours of our Country’s Democracy heroes and forefathers, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should not be jeopardized.
“We call upon EFCC to handle the matter in a peaceful way as part of democracy. it should be a ministry of understanding in handling things, not in a war or hard way. “Oluwole, in its statement, said, “While we acknowledge the EFCC’s mandate to combat corruption, “call upon them to uphold the rule of law throughout the entire process.”
The statement further recognized the role of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as a champion of Nigerian democracy, expressing hope that Tinubu’s experience can contribute to a peaceful resolution.
“We urge the EFCC to maintain a peaceful approach, open communication and understanding that should guide this process, not forceful tactics”.
They also called for a swift and transparent resolution that upholds the law and strengthens Nigeria’s democratic institutions
