BY ADEKOLA BOLUWAJI NIFEMI
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), once regarded as Nigeria’s flagship anti-corruption agency, has in recent years suffered a credibility crisis. Nowhere is this more evident than in its handling of the high-profile corruption case involving Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State. The EFCC’s inability—or unwillingness—to bring Bello to justice is not merely a failure of law enforcement; it is a glaring indictment of the institutional decay, political compromise, and selective accountability that continue to undermine Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
The Yahaya Bello Case: A Snapshot of Alleged Loot
Yahaya Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, has been linked to staggering allegations of corruption. According to the EFCC, Bello is accused of embezzling over ₦80 billion during his tenure—funds meant for salaries, infrastructure, healthcare, and public services in one of Nigeria’s poorest states.
In April 2024, the EFCC issued a warrant for his arrest, charging him with money laundering and criminal misappropriation. Yet more than a year later, Bello has not been successfully arrested or prosecuted. He has not even appeared in court. Instead, the former governor has seemingly mocked the judicial process, protected by a maze of legal technicalities, political cover, and institutional reluctance.
Institutional Paralysis and Compromise
The EFCC’s failure to secure Bello’s arrest is not just about legal roadblocks—it reflects a deeper institutional paralysis. Multiple attempts by the commission to detain or question Bello have been thwarted by a combination of political interference, last-minute court injunctions, and, disturbingly, the protection of law enforcement personnel loyal to him. In one particularly shocking episode, Bello was allegedly shielded from arrest by state security operatives, turning what should have been a standard law enforcement action into a national farce.
This pattern of obstruction raises serious questions: If the EFCC cannot bring a former governor to justice in a high-profile, well-documented case, what hope is there for accountability at lower levels of government?
Political Interference and the Culture of Impunity
The Yahaya Bello case has exposed the deeply politicized nature of Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture. While the EFCC was envisioned as an independent agency, successive administrations have turned it into a tool of political convenience. Individuals outside the ruling party or in political disfavor are swiftly prosecuted. But allies and insiders—like Bello, a key figure in the APC’s internal machinery—often enjoy immunity in practice, if not in law.
The fact that Bello remains a free man, with full media access and political relevance, sends a chilling message: that corruption in Nigeria is not a crime unless you fall out of favor. This two-tiered system of justice not only undermines the rule of law but also erodes public faith in the entire anti-corruption agenda.
The Judiciary: A Willing Accomplice?
The judiciary, which should serve as a check against executive overreach and ensure legal accountability, has also played a troubling role. Bello and his legal team have secured multiple injunctions preventing his arrest—some granted under questionable circumstances. These court orders, often issued at lightning speed and under murky justifications, suggest a judiciary vulnerable to manipulation or intimidation.
This abuse of legal processes—known as “injunction shopping”—is a tactic frequently used by powerful elites to stall justice. And in Bello’s case, it has worked with stunning efficiency.
What This Means for Nigeria’s Future
The EFCC’s handling of the Yahaya Bello case symbolizes a broader collapse of accountability in Nigeria. The failure to prosecute such a high-profile suspect:
• Weakens the credibility of anti-corruption institutions,
• Emboldens other corrupt public officials, and
• Reinforces the belief that political power grants immunity from prosecution.
For a country whose resources are routinely plundered while millions live in poverty, this kind of elite protectionism is not just unethical—it is catastrophic.
Conclusion: A Moment of Reckoning
The EFCC’s failure to hold Yahaya Bello accountable is more than a personal scandal. It is a systemic failure that speaks to the heart of Nigeria’s governance crisis. Until there is real political will to support institutional independence, eliminate legal impunity, and prioritize justice over patronage, the country’s anti-corruption war will remain a hollow slogan.
The time has come for Nigerians to demand more: from their leaders, from their courts, and from agencies like the EFCC. Because until corruption truly has consequences—regardless of party, position, or power—the nation will remain trapped in a vicious cycle of theft, denial, and decay.