Yahaya Bello Accuses EFCC of Political Vendetta, Calls for Probe into Alleged Bias

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of attempting to tarnish his reputation through what he describes as a politically motivated campaign.

In a statement released on Wednesday by his media team, headed by Ohiare Michael, Bello alleged that the EFCC is working under pressure to incriminate him in order to please certain interests.

He pointed to procedural errors and questionable actions by the anti-graft agency as evidence of desperation to target him unjustly.

Michael highlighted the EFCC’s handling of a recent encounter where Bello voluntarily submitted himself to the agency but was not interrogated or detained, only for EFCC operatives to later launch an attack on the Kogi Government Lodge.

“If the EFCC was genuinely interested in prosecution, why didn’t they take him in that day for arraignment? This appears to be more about embarrassing the former governor rather than fighting corruption,” the statement read.

The media team accused the EFCC of conducting a “political vendetta” and using the case to “massage the egos” of certain collaborators. They also called on Nigerians to question the agency’s real motives and emphasized that Bello remains committed to facing justice, but only within the bounds of the law.

The statement further criticized the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, accusing him of pursuing a personal agenda. Bello’s team urged President Bola Tinubu to investigate Olukoyede’s actions and the EFCC’s conduct in the ongoing case.

“We believe that former Governor Yahaya Bello will have his day in court, but it must be in line with the rule of law, not as prescribed by the EFCC,” the statement concluded.