The Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede to revisit all abandoned high profile cases pending in court.
Clark stated the EFCC boss has earned his respect the more with the dealing with of former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello saga.
The previous national Commissioner in a letter to Olukoyede titled “Re: The reviving of all abandoned excessive profile corrupt circumstances in opposition to politicians by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission” urged the anti-graft czar not to be moved by criticisms against him.
He wrote: “Mr Chairman, I’m prompted to deal with this letter to you after seeing you on the tv courageously and forthrightly talking on behalf of your commission (EFCC) on the former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Yahaya Bello’s case which is already pending within the Federal High Court Abuja and as usual, some unpatriotic and misguided Nigerians have criticized you, branding your look on the television as media propaganda. I totally disagree with them and you might be on the right path.
“I sincerely appeal to my good-looking and attractive son, Yahaya Bello to give up himself to the court docket with dignity and cease engaging in pursuing procedural points which some Nigerian lawyers are manipulating in the media.
“The offence allegedly committed by him is bailable.
“The true subject is that Yahaya Bello paid some amount of money to the American Faculty, which was paid with the Kogi State Government’s fund, to the sum of $845,852.
” It is usually true that the American School has refunded $760,910 to the EFCC which demanded for it.
“It have to be noted that the issue of bench warrant has all the time been an instrument utilized by Nigerian Courts to attract the eye of high profile Government officials that no one is above the legislation. It isn’t new by the court and Yahaya Bello’s case shouldn’t be treated differently.
“At this juncture, Nigerians ought to ask themselves if corruption is a monster that have to be defeated ?
“In any other case we’re in large hassle. As our Former President, Muhammadu Buhari use to say, “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us”. Once more, I appeal to the Nigerian public to assist the new Chairman of EFCC in his campaign in opposition to corruption.
“Secondly, I want to congratulate you wholeheartedly in your appointment as the new Government Chairman of EFCC whereby you could have taken over successfully from the previous Chairman Abdul Rasheed Bawa.
“I hope you’ll undoubtedly carry out your duties successfully, impeccably, truthful and simply and with none discrimination, political victimization or witch-hunting of political opponents and have the braveness and skill to confront the so known as sacred cows in our society.
“The extent of corruption within the public service and even in private business has reached such an alarming scale. It has develop into a recognised method of our every day lives. Whereas the Ministers, Everlasting Secretaries and Directors in a Ministry perform corruption and abuse of workplace at a big scale at greater stage, the decrease ranks within the Ministry even together with the clerks and messengers are additionally concerned in minor methods of corruption by hiding files and paperwork and asking for cash earlier than releasing them.
“A new trend has now elevated the temple of corruption. It’s ridiculous to say that a number of the officers and assistants have elevated the extent of corruption within the public service. A few of these within the Presidency, Ministers offices, President of the Senate and so forth demand cash notably in {Dollars} earlier than permitting you to see their principals.
“Corruption and abuse of workplace which unfortunately has develop into our lifestyle can solely be lowered if there’s political will on the a part of the Authorities to prosecute all these discovered corrupt as emergency circumstances and given accelerated listening to or the Federal Authorities ought to create a particular court docket for a time period to deal with excessive profile corrupt circumstances and to not permit such corrupt cases to be introduced over the media and no additional action taken.”
He additional added that “Among the former Governors who have been charged to court docket prior to now ten years by no means went again to court docket to record most of those circumstances for trial. What sort of society can we belong to on this nation?
“Nonetheless, I deeply admire your braveness and can energy in reviving these excessive profile corrupt circumstances involving former Governors, a few of whom are within the Senate shamelessly parading themselves as harmless residents whereas a few of them are right now serving as Ministers within the current Administration. It’s subsequently with nice pleasure I learn with satisfaction your current release wildly revealed within the web and a few newspapers notably in Sunday Punch of 14th January 2024 at page 3.
“You spoke the thoughts of all patriotic Nigerians who critically imagine within the eradication of corrupt practices in our physique polity.
“You revealed the names of those unpatriotic culprits who embezzled the sum of about ₦772 Billion, sufficient to rejuvenate our ailing economy.
“I be part of different Nigerians in supporting you to carryout with rapidity to finish the investigations of those circumstances and to expedite the trial of all these charged to court docket since 2007; who will not be solely within the Senate and Government eating and wining with Mr President however are additionally residing lavishly on the expense of unstable and susceptible Nigerians.
“I additionally want to advise you that every one former Governors who served the nation and a few of who looted their state treasury as it’s alleged in Yahaya Bello’s case must be investigated by your commission with rapidity to allow Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to hold out his anti-corruption campaign.
“Finally, I pray the almighty God give you power, courage, determination, potential and wisdom to carryout this essential national assignment to eradicate corruption in our society.”
Source:- Punchng
