Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has asked the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to heed the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the court of law.
According to the group, it has become necessary for Bello to clear himself of the allegations of financial malfeasance while in office.
The EFCC had filed 19 criminal counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.246 billion before a Federal High Court in Abuja against the former governor and others.
In a statement issued on Sunday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the stand-off between the former governor and the EFCC as unnecessary, saying it is an affront to the sanctity of the law and the integrity of President Bola Tinubu’s war against corruption.
The statement said: “We have carefully watched all the drama and subterfuge that continue to trail the invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Governor Yahaya Bello, a senior member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the curious attempts to politicize the routine matter of the request by the graft-fighting agency to ask former Governor Bello to meet with its investigators.
“For us, the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, asking the former Kogi governor to subject himself to EFCC’s scrutiny is a clear signal in this regard, not only on the position of law but also on the stance of the President Bola Tinubu administration on anti-corruption.
“It should be clear by now to all Nigerians that strict accountability in governance occupies a cardinal place in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. To serve this purpose, his government has shown zero tolerance to cases of corruption since assuming office.”
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