Kogi Youths Protest EFCC’s Planned Arrest of Yahaya Bello Over Alleged N80.2bn Fraud

A group of Kogi State youths have taken to the streets to protest against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) plans to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

The protest, which caused a significant traffic jam on the Lokoja-Abuja road, saw the demonstrators accuse the anti-graft agency of witch-hunting and disregarding the rule of law.

The protest, organized under the auspices of the Coalition of Civil Society for Democracy and the Africa Youths Coalition for Justice, saw the participants carrying banners with various inscriptions.

These included “Nigeria is not a banana republic,” “President Tinubu, call EFCC to order,” “EFCC stop witch hunting,” “Yahaya Bello remains a responsible citizen,” and “EFCC obey court order now.”

The demonstrators expressed their concern over the alleged victimization of the former Governor, urging the EFCC to exercise caution and adhere to the rule of law in its pursuit of justice.

They argued that the charges against Bello were baseless and politically motivated.

The EFCC had previously announced plans to arrest Bello over alleged financial irregularities during his tenure as Governor.

The agency accused Bello of siphoning state funds and engaging in fraudulent activities, leading to a massive loss of public funds.

The allegations have sparked a heated debate among political circles and civil society organizations, with some questioning the timing and motive behind the EFCC’s actions.

Critics argue that the move is an attempt to undermine the former Governor’s political influence and silence his supporters.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the EFCC will respond to the protesters’ demands and whether the charges against Yahaya Bello will be substantiated in a court of law.