The rule of law has been adjudged all over the world as the pillar upon which democracy rests. It is the hallmark of good governance which gave birth to major characteristics identified as participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive system. Nigeria, being an integral part of the global community has evolved over the years as a place where the rights of citizens are not allowed to be trampled upon with impunity.

For the past few weeks, the media space has been awashed with the troubling allegations surrounding the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and the much touted actions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This unending scenario has resulted in series of accusations and legal brickbats, making many Nigerians to pitch their tent with either Yahaya Bello or the EFCC.

The EFCC accused Yahaya Bello of mismanaging billions of naira while in office as the Executive Governor of Kogi State, but Bello, popularly referred to as “The White Lion” has denied it.

To enforce his fundamental human rights, Yahaya Bello approached the court and got an injunction restraining the commission from arresting him pending the determination of the substantive matter.

Despite this court order, the EFCC has consistently been making frantic efforts to apprehend the former governor.

The determination of the commission to bring Bello in for questioning at all cost has not only been subject of daily headlines, but also raised valid questions about the integrity of our institutions and the sanctity of due process.

The rule of law no doubt suffice in this matter, since the allegations leveled against Yahaya Bello, particularly regarding the purported misuse of state funds, strike at the core of our nation’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance. However, recent events in the public sphere paints a troubling picture of justice being undermined by sensationalism and procedural lapses.

The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, recently addressed a press conference where he made daunting accusations against Bello, and this has been widely described as part of the pitfalls of media sensationalism. While every citizen has the right to express concerns and seek redress for perceived wrongs, it is imperative that such grievances are addressed through proper channels, guided by the principles of fairness and impartiality.

Olukoyede alleged that Yahaya Bello withdrew cash from the Kogi State Government Account, sent same to Bureau De Change Operators and then used same to pay the school fees of his children in advance.

The EFCC boss alleged that the payment was made just about the time the former Governor was to leave office.

In a swift reaction to the allegations, a legal activist and constitutional lawyer, Wilfred Molokun who rubbished all the issues raised against Yahaya Bello, also counseled the commission to desist from incessant media trials of the former Kogi governor.

Molokun said it is absurd for an agency charged with responsibility for the enforcement of all economic and financial crimes laws to throw overboard the rule of law in its desperation to “persecute, prosecute and humiliate a former governor”.

In a similar development, some concerned All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftains, have described the much celebrated allegations against Bello as vendetta and not fight against corruption.

The APC chieftains noted that an unbiased assessment of the alleged media trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the EFCC showcases grounds for strong suspicion of vendetta.

Similarly, the Head of the Tinubu Media Support Group, Jesutega Onokpasa, who spoke on behalf of Concerned Chieftains said, “Indeed, an unbiased assessment of the goings on in this matter profusely showcase grounds for strong suspicion that while the public is being misled into the erroneous impression that the EFCC is trying to fight corruption, it is actually just a pretense in furtherance of a personal vendetta on behalf of, and, at the behest of persons in government intent on the bastardisation of our institutions of state.”

While lending his voice to the EFCC and Yahaya Bello drama, a chieftain of the opposition  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, faulted the approach being deployed by the anti corruption commission.

Momodu who urged the EFCC Chairman to learn from the mistakes of his predecessors in office, frowned at what he termed selective prosecution, saying “a situation where EFCC would have to be told who can be touched and who cannot be touched is unacceptable.”

He said: “When they brought in the new chairman, I thought oh, you will have the benefit of learning from your predecessors. All of them were booted out ignominiously and if I were in the shoes of the current chairman, what I will simply do is make sure I do my job as meticulously, as professionally, as efficiently as possible. And, you will never go wrong if you obey the rule of law.

“I watched the EFCC chairman, I think either last week or the week before the last, I was almost crying because the way he went on and on..if I don’t do this… spitting fire and all.. you don’t have to do media trial.”

The veteran journalist who advocated for obedience to court order on the matter, posited that: “And he is not the only governor who went to court and if the court has granted him that, so be it. We all know that our judiciary is not so perfect but you know, even at that, law is law, it must be obeyed. If we disobey the rule of law, then, we will have to obey the rule of the jungle. So, I never said that they are lying, it is their own statement that shows that they didn’t do their due diligence.

“My advice to President Tinubu is, don’t listen to all these people who will run away when tomorrow comes. Just follow the rule of law. I am appealing, obey the rule of law…. A situation where the EFCC will have to be told who can be touched, who cannot be touched; It is unacceptable. It is unacceptable! And that is why a lot of people have given up. You can see that a lot of serious people are not even interested in whatever they are doing to Yahaya Bello. A lot of people are not interested because they have felt all the ‘gra gra’ before, it is nothing new.”

On the issue of school fees, Momodu said, “I mean, I looked at the issue of school fees. Before I read, I was like how can somebody pay that kind of money? Then, when I read, it was something else I was seeing. They said he paid upfront just before he left government, and when I checked, that was not what happened. How can you try people before you will go and examine the fact?”

Yahaya Bello had on several occasions debunked the various allegations by the EFCC and it is on this note that The Nigerian Monitor wants the anti-graft agency to thread softly and allow the rule of law prevail, rather than media blackmail.

The EFCC Chairman must not forget that once parties have submitted a dispute to the court, they are to shun all actions and statements that may prejudice the hearing of the matter or the mind of the temple of justice.

It is also important for him to note that the fight against corruption is a serious issue that must be subjected to legal scrutiny, if the agency is serious about the mandate given to it by the Nigerian laws.

Therefore, for justice to be seen to have been served in this case believed by many to be politically motivated, due process must be embraced by the EFCC, as against the media trial which has resulted in undue blackmail on the person and personality of the former Kogi governor.