Yahaya Bello remains innocent until proven guilty, says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reaffirmed that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is presumed innocent until a competent court of law determines otherwise.

The anti-graft agency emphasised that Bello’s case is still undergoing trial and that the final judgment on his guilt or innocence rests exclusively with the judiciary, not the commission.

Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Monday, EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwuajeren, explained that criminal prosecution in Nigeria is often a lengthy process due to the need for detailed presentation of evidence and witness testimonies.

Uwuajeren confirmed that the EFCC is actively prosecuting the case and fulfilling its legal responsibility by presenting witnesses and evidence before the court.

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“One thing we need to understand is how criminal prosecution works in Nigeria. It takes some time,” he said.

He added, “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 EFCC spokesperson stressed that under the Nigerian Constitution, every defendant remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

“Yahaya Bello, as we speak, is on trial, but the Constitution presumes that anyone who is on trial is innocent until that case is proven,” Uwuajeren stated.

Uwuajeren also dismissed any political interpretation of the case, noting that Bello’s position or challenges within his political party have no bearing on the charges brought against him.

“Whatever is happening to him within his party, that is the party’s affair. It has nothing to do with the EFCC,” he said.

He reiterated that the commission is a non-political law enforcement body focused strictly on enforcing the law.

Concluding, Uwuajeren assured Nigerians that the EFCC remains committed to fairness and due process, both for the prosecution and the defense.

“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,” he said. “EFCC is not a political party. We are not interested in politics.”

The commission maintained that the case is proceeding in line with legal requirements and will be resolved through the judicial process.