Niger Delta leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark has called on former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to come out of hiding. Clark urged the former Kogi State Governor to show respect for the law by showing up to face the allegations of money laundering levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in court.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, the 96-year-old, known for his outspoken views and unwavering stance against corruption, did not mince words as he criticized Bello’s reluctance to answer the charges in court. Clark accused the former governor of stubbornness and alleged that he is still effectively wielding power in Kogi State despite the election of a new governor, Ahmed Ododo.
Yahaya Bello has been the subject of investigation and prosecution by the EFCC over allegations of engaging in money laundering and misappropriation of state funds during his tenure. The anti-graft agency previously tried to arrest him after he declining invitations to appear before investigators. He was subsequently declared wanted.
Clark slamed Bello’s conduct as “stubborn” and asserted that the time has come for him to answer the questions raised by the EFCC’s investigation.
“Yahaya Bello is just being stubborn, he knows where to go to,” Clark said
“He has been living a very rough- having a rough government, corruption, killing of people in the place during elections and so on. There is time for everything, and it has come for him to answer questions. He should go to court,” he added.
Clark also accused the current governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo of shielding a fugitive running from justice.
“It’s Yahaya Bello in power for the third term, not Ododo. He’s just running after him,” Clark asserted, urging the current governor to assert his authority and set a positive example for Nigerian youth.
“So this is what I want to say about Ododo, I’m pleading with him. He’s a nice, attractive young man, he should do the needful so that the youths in this country can have something to fall upon,” he said
