Professor Nwoke Friday Chijioke, the former Vice President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, has spoken out against the press conference conducted by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), particularly in relation to its discussion of Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State.

Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Prof. Chijioke criticized the EFCC's approach, denouncing it as an unfair trial and labelling it as a form of media trial.

He stressed the importance of discretion in such matters, emphasizing that institutions of justice, like the EFCC, should conduct investigations discreetly without involving the media.

His words: ''The EFCC chairman's press conference of yesterday was really uncalled for. That is an unfair trial. All these challenges are because of what I would call a media trial.

''An institution of justice should be in a position, especially when you are the investigator, to carry out a discreet investigation. You do not need to involve the media.

''For example, the EFCC's chairman interview yesterday was really, really uncalled for. It was uncalled for in the sense that you do not need to accord any privilege to Yahaya Bello.

''The law does not require the according or the giving of privileges to persons who are suspected of having committed an offence. That is one.

''Secondly, the law necessarily does not need, especially in situations of this nature. In corruption cases, you don't necessarily need to make an arrest. You don't need to bring into custody. Because more often than not, in corruption cases, they are determined by documentary evidence.

''If you make out a prima facie case and you have evidence to make out a prima facie case, why don't you file a case in court and serve the accused person? Why would you, in the first instance, perhaps advertise or publicize? Because that is, in the first instance, unfair hearing.''


https://authorityngr.com/2024/04/25/former-vp-of-ecowas-court-berates-efcc-chairman-over-press-briefing-on-yahaya-bello/

Talk is cheap

Point made,

Kindly advise fugitive ex gov to turn himself in

EFCC no gree for anybody

I have to commend the EFCC Chairman

Please just arrest Bello. Lemme have tingere hope in this wasted nation for once

When incompetence, tribalism, nepotism, bigotry, cluelessness, arr enthroned by a failed fake certificate holder, this is what Nigerians will always get, media trial Just like his darling daddy Buhari

Balablue who moves arounnd the lagoon with bullion vans appointed illiterates & empty heads because of tribalism to do his biddings & keep his emilokan supporters busy with lies , propaganda and deceit

The empty headed big for nothing head was pouring saliva all over the press Media trial saying he would resign if the thief Bello is not brought under justice while tinubulators were being fooled

This life eh

The incumbent EFCC chairman is the worst and incompetent among all the people president TINUBU appointed

Imagine an anti-graft chairman openly confessing he accord privileges to a suspect!!!

This one na confirm Mumuji.... hahahaha 🤣🤣🤣. A real baby, doing his best to please daddy coco!