2nd May, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Veteran Nollywood actor Segun Arinze has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to ensure that it follows due process in prosecuting the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The anti-graft agency had accused the Bello of illegally taking the money from the coffers of the Kogi State Government.
The immediate past governor of Kogi State also stands accused of an N80.2 billion fraud, by the EFCC alongside his nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on a 19-count charge.
Yahaya Bello has refused to honor the invitation of the EFCC to defend himself and the agency has subjected him to media trial.
Reacting in a video message shared via his Instagram account, Arinze said the ongoing social media trial of Bello was unnecessary.
He urged the EFCC to follow due process by allowing the law take its course.
He said, “I have been observing the things that have been going on with the EFCC and Yahaya Bello saga and it has been quite dramatic.
“First, the EFCC came out with a lot of statements on social media and in the news about the bulged arrest of Yahaya Bello and of course, the amount of dollars he paid into his children’s school account. It’s not enough to say the money came from the government but if it’s substantiated, it’s damming.
“I’m not saying Yahaya Bello is innocent or guilty. I don’t even have much details about that. What I’m bothered about is social media. If social media haven’t dragged you before, you won’t understand. Too many opinions on social media with all the feeds coming out from the EFCC and generally, it just brings a lot of negativity on both sides.
“What I’m saying is, social media parliament is not the Nigerian judiciary. It can’t make any decision. As I am made to understand, the case is already in court. So my advice is that EFCC should follow due process. Let the law take its course. That’s my personal opinion.”