Wednesday, August 27, 2025
  • Who’sWho Africa AWARDS
  • About Time Africa Magazine
  • Contact Us
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • Magazine
  • World News

Home » Column » The EFCC, Yahaya Bello, Tom And Jerry: The Alawada Circus Show Continues

The EFCC, Yahaya Bello, Tom And Jerry: The Alawada Circus Show Continues

Writes: Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, CON, OFR, LL.D

September 23, 2024
in Column
0
545
SHARES
4.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I have just read a most sensational story about the EFCC saying it is still looking for Bello with a view to arraigning him next Thursday. This afterthought step is most unprofessional for God’s sake. I want to believe that the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, a brilliant lawyer and regulatory compliance consultant who had himself been a former Secretary to the Commission and also Chief of Staff to the then Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, was not aware of this great solecism.

It is everywhere on the internet, traditional and social media how the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello accompanied by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, voluntarily physically submitted himself to the EFCC’s headquarters and waited for over three hours to be interviewed. Pictures showed that he even met physically with the Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Mr Michael Nzekwe (himself a senior lawyer and experienced investigator), but that he was told to go home; only for the same EFCC to lay siege much later on the Kogi State government lodge in Abuja, allegedly seeking to arrest the same Bello who had earlier in the day voluntarily submitted himself for interrogation. It just does not add up. And it just does not make sense to me at all.

Is it that the EFCC was gravely taken aback by the sudden and unexpected appearance in their office of Bello whom it had been looking for since April this year? Or is it that the Commission felt short-changed and belittled by not having the last laugh, pleasure and self-satiation and glorification of physically arresting, chaining and embarrassing Bello so as to later gloat over it in the public domain? I do not and cannot understand this curious twist which appears more like a drama movie piece from Baba Sala’s Alawada Kerikeri histrionic stable. Why this sensational media trial, a needless warped investigative stratagem devoid of hallowed professionalism which I have condemned over the years?

I advise the Chairman, Olukoyede, to immediately investigate his officers over this faux pas and bring them to book for embarrassing the EFCC and subjecting Nigeria’s image to the mud before global circles. Yahaya Bello should go to court and defend himself of the allegations against him, whether malicious, false or well founded. That is the way to go. But the EFCC should also allow Bello have his day in court like other Nigerian citizens under a conducive atmosphere devoid of media trial, harassment and intimidation so as to ensure his fair trial.

ReadAlso

LEAKED: Inside The Deal That Freed Binance Executive

EFCC Arraigns Top Executives of Sun Trust Bank over Alleged $12m Fraud

Afterall, the Nigerian criminal justice system remains the accusatorial Anglo-Saxon model (where a citizen’s innocence is presumed); as against the Inquisitorial French model (where his guilty is presumed). This presumption of innocence has been entrenched in section 36 of the 1999 Constitution. A media trial such as we have witnessed since April this year violently detracts and derogates from fair trial as it tars an otherwise innocent accused person with an already guilty paintbrush of shame, odium, obloquy, derision and dehumanization even before he has been arraigned, tried and found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. It should NEVER BE.

ADVERTISEMENT
Tags: EFCCMike OzekhomeYahaya Bello
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

The nightmarish state of federal roads

Next Post

UAE to expand $1 trillion partnership with U.S. through AI, Investment

You MayAlso Like

Column

Congo Has Astronomical Rates of Sexual Violence. Now Victims Have Lost Access to Care

August 25, 2025
Column

Canada’s Redefinition of Terrorism

August 22, 2025
Column

Opinion | Okonjo-Iweala: Saleswoman Of Bad Products

August 19, 2025
Column

The Resilience of World Trade | Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

August 18, 2025
Column

When Nudity Attracts Fortune And Excellence Attracts Silence —The Collapse Of Our Values

August 19, 2025
Column

The Civil War Never Ended – Dr. Reuben Abati Spoke The Truth Nigeria Must Confront

August 19, 2025
Next Post
UAE-US-Relationship

UAE to expand $1 trillion partnership with U.S. through AI, Investment

Apostle-Chibuzor-Chinyere

HRM King Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, A Man Sent By God To Do Exploits

Discussion about this post

NYSC Member Shares Harrowing Experience with Anambra Vigilantes

Stolen Soil, Land Grabbing: Mburubu Community Sends SOS to Enugu Govt

Brutalized female NYSC in Anambra —Dismissals make headlines. Convictions make justice

Enugu Ministry of Science and Tech Commences e-Government Capacity Building

New discovery at site of Jesus resurrection corroborates the Bible

The Civil War Never Ended – Dr. Reuben Abati Spoke The Truth Nigeria Must Confront

  • British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

    1240 shares
    Share 496 Tweet 310
  • Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

    1066 shares
    Share 426 Tweet 267
  • Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

    971 shares
    Share 388 Tweet 243
  • ‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

    904 shares
    Share 361 Tweet 226
  • Crisis echoes, fears grow in Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State

    735 shares
    Share 294 Tweet 184
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

April 13, 2023

Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

December 27, 2022
Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

September 22, 2023
‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

March 21, 2023
Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu, wife of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra state

NIGERIA: No, wife of Biafran warlord, Bianca Ojukwu lied – Ebele Obiano:

0

SOUTH AFRICA: TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?

0
kelechi iheanacho

TOP SCORER: IHEANACHA

0
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

WHAT CAN’TBE TAKEN AWAY FROM JONATHAN

0

Abia At 34: Rising From The Ashes, Marching Boldly Into A Glorious Future

August 27, 2025

Tottenham looking at Ademola Lookman, Lucas Paqueta, Xavi Simons,  and Maghnes Akliouche

August 27, 2025

How Arsenal silently hijacked Spurs’ Eberechi Eze transfer well before anyone knew

August 27, 2025

Delta State at 34: A Beacon of Progress and Promise, says Rector Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku

August 27, 2025

ABOUT US

Time Africa Magazine

TIME AFRICA MAGAZINE is an African Magazine with a culture of excellence; a magazine without peer. Nearly a third of its readers hold advanced degrees and include novelists, … READ MORE >>

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Column
  • Crime
  • Europe
  • Featured
  • Gallery
  • Health
  • Interviews
  • Israel-Hamas
  • Lifestyle
  • Magazine
  • Middle-East
  • News
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Russia-Ukraine
  • Science
  • Special Report
  • Sports
  • TV/Radio
  • UAE
  • UK
  • US
  • World News

Useful Links

  • AllAfrica
  • Channel Africa
  • El Khabar
  • The Guardian
  • Cairo Live
  • Le Republicain
  • Magazine: 9771144975608
  • Subscribe to TIME AFRICA biweekly news magazine

    Enjoy handpicked stories from around African continent,
    delivered anywhere in the world

    Subscribe

    • About Time Africa Magazine
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS

    © 2025 Time Africa Magazine - All Right Reserved. Time Africa is a trademark of Times Associates, registered in the U.S, & Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
    • Politics
    • Column
    • Interviews
    • Gallery
    • Lifestyle
    • Special Report
    • Sports
    • TV/Radio
    • Aviation
    • Health
    • Science
    • World News

    © 2025 Time Africa Magazine - All Right Reserved. Time Africa is a trademark of Times Associates, registered in the U.S, & Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.