Youths flay alleged media trial of Bello
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it would on May 15 arraign former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in a Federal Capital Territory High Court on a three-count amended charge.

The commission made the disclosure just as Frontline Youth Groups in Nigeria staged a peaceful protest in Abuja, yesterday, against what they termed a political coloration of EFCC’s allegations against former Governor Yahaya Bello.

In the fresh charge filed against him, EFCC alleged that Emefiele disobeyed the directives of law with the intent to cause injury to the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The anti-graft agency also accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the arraignment was earlier slated before Justice Maryann Anenih.

However, all the parties were not present in court when the matter, with case number: CR/264/2024, was called.

The court said the prosecution sent a letter seeking adjournment because Emefiele was standing trial in another court in Lagos.

The judge, therefore, adjourned until May 15 for the arraignment.

The Commission has also re-arraigned a former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service, Bridget Okafor, before Justice Venchak Gaba of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), High Court, Kuje, Abuja.

Okafor alongside her company Bridkass Investment Integrated Limited, is facing trial on 13-amended count charges bordering on abuse of office, misappropriation, and contract scam to the tune of N1,966,378,045.85.

She had pleaded not guilty to all the thirteen-count charges when they were read to her.

Okafor was first arraigned on May 19, 2019, before the same judge in FCT High Court, Kwali before he was transferred to Kuje FCT High Court.

On the EFCC’s trial of Bello, the protesting youth groups, including the Yoruba Youth Council, Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria, North Central Youth Council, All Progressives Congress Youth Ambassadors and APC National Students Forum, called on the National Assembly and Attorney General of the Federation to caution the EFCC and ensure due process was followed in the matter.

According to them, many Nigerians were not aware of the legal bottlenecks involved in the matter at the beginning, which clearly shows that the former governor was protected by law and that the commission acted in a hurry.

The youths, numbering over 1,000, stormed the National Assembly Gate, carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “Respect the rule of law”, and “NYLC condemns media trial”, among others.

National President of the Yoruba Youth Council, Ayodele Gbologe, said, “If the EFCC has a case against the former governor, let them follow the normal procedure, not just following any backdoor to just arrest anybody or think of intimidating any Nigerian.”

Other youths that addressed journalists called on Federal Government of Nigeria to stop all political victimisation of Yahaya Bello.