The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has emphasized that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
The clarification comes amid public debate over Bello’s announcement to run for the Kogi Central senatorial seat in 2027.
The EFCC highlighted that determining his guilt or innocence is the sole responsibility of the judiciary, not the Commission.
Bello is currently facing prosecution before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over allegations of diverting and misappropriating ₦80.2 billion in Kogi State funds during his tenure as governor.
Speaking on Monday on Arise Television’s Morning Show, monitored by Vanguard, EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwuajeren, explained that criminal prosecutions in Nigeria are time-consuming, involving the presentation of evidence and witnesses before the court.
Uwuajeren said the EFCC is actively prosecuting the case, presenting witnesses and evidence, and stressed that the court alone will determine the outcome.
He added that the Nigerian Constitution presumes anyone standing trial to be innocent until proven otherwise, noting that Bello’s position within his political party is unrelated to the charges against him.
“The EFCC has no interest in party politics and is only focused on faithfully prosecuting the charges before the court,” Uwuajeren said.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring justice for both the prosecution and the defence, noting that the case has been handled appropriately.
He stated, “One thing we need to understand how criminal prosecution works in Nigeria. It takes some time before you prove some of these challenges in court. Like, as I speak to you, the trial is still ongoing before the courts. We are presenting witnesses, we have presented evidence. It is not the commission that is going to decide the matter. It’s the court that will decide the matter. All we need to do is to follow the prosecution how is going on in the court, and ensure at the end of the day, both the prosecution and the defense get justice.
“But having said that, Yaya Bello, as we speak, is under trial, but the Constitution presumes that anyone who is under trial to be innocent until that case is proven. So, whatever is happening to him within his party, that is the party affairs. It has nothing to do with the EFCC. It has nothing to do with the charge that we are filed before the court.
“So the responsibility that we owe Nigeria is to be faithful to the charges that we have filed against him in the court, and we are prosecuting those charges religiously. Nothing has happened, nothing has gone amiss in terms of that and we are committed to doing that.
“In terms of Yaya Bello, whatever the party does to him, that is the party’s business. EFCC is not a political party. We are not interested in politics. EFCC is a law enforcement organization, and we are enforcing the law, so to speak.”
