Former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon Kayode Oladele, has advised former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, to toe the line of honour by submitting himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for proper investigation over the alleged N80.2billion fraud.
Oladele stated this in a statement made available on Monday while reacting to the face-off between the EFCC and Bello
The foremost human rights lawyer also argued that as a former governor, Bello no longer enjoys immunity and therefore should honourably submit himself to the rule of law.
He said: “Unfortunately, he can only run, he cannot hide. The long arm of the law will eventually catch up with him.
“What the former governor is doing, without mincing words, is a gross violation of Nigeria’s constitution and promotion of a dangerous culture of impunity.
“Yahaya Bello’s penchant for procuring court injunctions to evade justice is tantamount to setting a bad precedent in the country.
“I therefore lend my voice with other prominent Nigerians calling on Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to prosecute police officers, who had impeded the lawful arrest of Yahaya Bello by the EFCC operatives in his Abuja residence.”
Oladele, the former Chief of Staff to the former Chairman of the EFCC , also cautioned Nigerian judges against granting spurious injunctions to impede criminal investigations.
According to him, the actions of the judges are capable of damaging the reputation and undermining the integrity of the nation’s judicial system.
Oladele further argued that any High Court injunction, purportedly granted to restrain the EFCC from lawfully arresting and prosecuting Bello is a clear contravention of Section 35(1) (c) of the Constitution 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states that the police, anti-graft agencies and other prosecutorial bodies cannot be prevented by a court of law from arresting and prosecuting a criminal suspect, regardless of status on a reasonable evidence that he or she has committed a criminal offence”.
He further said : “Nigerian judiciary, as the last hope of common man, provides the pillar for the survival of democracy and promotion of rule of law in the country and I call on the distinguished members of the Bar and the Bench, to at all times strive to maintain and sustain the inviolability and fidelity of the nation’s judicial system.”
