Nigeria Now Paradise For Thieves Where Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello Beams With Smiles After Allegedly Embezzling N110billion – Sowore

The popular Nigerian human rights activist and Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has heavily criticized the high level of criminality among political leaders in Nigeria.

Reacting to the arraignment of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who allegedly embezzled N110billion ($11million) from the state, Sowore expressed his condemnation on X (formerly Twitter) about how the country had become a paradise of thieves.  

He lamented that Nigeria has become a country where crime is rewarded "boldly, unabashedly, and unashamedly."

Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress AAC in the last general elections, also criticised the fact that the former governor's victims were in court to support him, even going as far as to swear that he would become Nigeria's next president.

He wrote: "Nigeria is a paradise for thieves! Nigeria is a country where crime is rewarded boldly, unabashedly, and unashamedly! Here is former Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello, who was accused of stealing N110 billion ($11m) of his meager state resources; for months, Bello refused to surrender to law enforcement officers at the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), protected by the hierarchy of the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian secret police known as the DSS when he finally did show up to be “arrested” and was arraigned in court, he was all smiles, beaming from ear to ear, unperturbed.

"He knows nothing will happen; his victims were also there in court to give him moral support and encouragement; they even swore that he would become Nigeria’s next president #Revolutionnow."

Recall that on Wednesday the Federal High Court in Abuja had adjourned the trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to December 10 while remanding him in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Yahaya Bello had earlier pleaded "not guity" to the 16 counts charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court.

Subsequently, the nation's anti-corruption agency, opposed his bail application in court on Wednesday, and the case was adjourned to December 10 for the reading of his bail application.

The fraud trial involving Yahaya Bello, had become chaotic on Wednesday morning when a crowd of his supporters stormed the court room.

Bello, who was arraigned at the FCT High Court on Wednesday, had asked his rascally followers and aides to leave the courtroom to ensure sanity.

Bello, who served as governor from 2016 to 2023, faces charges related to the mismanagement of state funds, as well as accusations of embezzlement and abuse of office.

Earlier in November, SaharaReporters reported that the EFCC had filed fresh charges against former governor, Bello, accusing him of N110 billion fraud.

The EFCC had initially filed 19 charges against the former Kogi governor, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.

In the fresh charges dated September 25, the total amount involved is N110,446,470,890.