EX GOVERNOR BELLO’S INVESTIGATION: Youth, CSO condemn EFCC over use of force on peaceful protesters, accuse Commission of attacks on members, journalists and vehicles
Pandemonium rented the air at the headquarters of the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission EFCC on Monday, caused by the alleged use of force on peaceful protest by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission against a Coalition of Kogi Youth and Civil Society Organizations.
The protest which was adjudged peaceful by passerbys until the men of the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission became uncontrollable and began to destroy vehicles belonging to protesters and dispersed peaceful protest with gunshots.
Earlier a group of Igala youth have had their protest in solidarity with the EFCC on the ongoing prosecution of ex Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. The youth who enjoyed the cover and protection of the EFCC submitted their petition and left and when it was about time for the larger crowd of pro- ex Governor Yahaya Bello, the officials of the EFCC started chasing people with dogs, big sticks and gunshots. An action that led to passerbys scampering for safety.
While addressing the Journalists, leader of the pro Yahaya Bello group, Comrade Conscious Richard describe the action of the Commission as one that is most likely sponsored to persecute the former Governor. Mr Richard said their visit to the EFCC was to advocate court trial and not media trial, argue for rule of law and not press conferences, demand prosecution and not persecution.
He said the action of their group is rather a support to justice, struggle for fairness and demand for right thing to be done by the EFCC on the ongoing probe. He however expressed grave disappointment in the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission for turning itself to tool for political persecution. He further said that the EFCC with their actions on this matter is already complicit and is fast losing its respect as an institution because of reducing the mandate of the Commission to that of serving as a tool to settle political and power struggle.
Mr Richard warn that EFCC should not bungle the beautiful anti-corruption war the Tinubu administration is fighting with optimum respect for rule of law, obedience to court orders and apolitical approach required by a very sensitive Institution like EFCC.
Mr Conscious Richard says many of their members were wounded, arrested,.their vehicles damaged and even journalists were not left out in the attack. He called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the EFCC to do it’s job in a manner that respects rule of law and order.
Attempt to reach the spokesperson of the Economic and Finance Crime Commission proved abortive as at the time of filing this report
