Kola Ologbondiyan, the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has issued a strong call to Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, urging him to end his avoidance and present himself to legal authorities. This comes in the wake of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declaring Bello wanted for allegations of money laundering. Despite his legal team asserting that Bello’s absence from a scheduled court appearance in Abuja is due to concerns over being arrested by the anti-graft agency, Ologbondiyan has voiced a stern rebuke.
In an interview with TheCable, Ologbondiyan criticized Bello’s actions, stating that the former governor has no reasonable option other than to face the judicial process. “He is left with only one choice and that is, he should go and face the law,” Ologbondiyan expressed, emphasizing the public demand for Bello to submit to legal scrutiny.
Ologbondiyan further highlighted the irony in Bello’s current predicament, noting his previous role as a chief law officer for eight years in Kogi State, which starkly contrasts with his current evasion from the law. He dismissed Bello’s maneuvers to avoid prosecution as unnecessary “shenanigans” and underscored that Bello’s guilt or innocence should be determined by the law rather than through evasion.
Responding to these remarks, Bello’s media team issued a statement asserting that the former governor is not fleeing from justice. They claim that Bello seeks to ensure that due process is followed in handling his case. This ongoing saga reflects a significant clash between a high-profile political figure and national law enforcement agencies, encapsulating broader issues of accountability and legal compliance among Nigeria’s political elite.