A year after the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, vowed to resign if former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was not prosecuted, Nigerians are taking to social media to hold him to his word.
The conversation was reignited on X (formerly Twitter) after user Harrison A (@harreceipts) shared a screenshot of an April 23, 2024 Vanguard newspaper report where Olukoyede publicly pledged to step down if Bello escaped prosecution.
Accompanying the post with the caption “One year don passooo,” Harrison’s tweet has since gained widespread traction, sparking renewed debate over the status and sincerity of Bello’s ongoing prosecution.
Bello is facing a 19 count charge brought against him by the EFCC, including allegations of money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving N80.2 billion. The Federal High Court in Abuja recently adjourned further proceedings in the case to June and July 2025, as Justice Emeka Nwite reserved ruling on an EFCC application to re-examine a key witness.
In response to Harrison’s post, netizens are divided over whether Olukoyede has fulfilled his promise, given that Yahaya Bello has already been charged and is standing trial.
@diaspora_prince wrote, “He has washed Pontus Polate hand. Yahoo Bello is in court already. Na court to collect money from Yahoo Bello and free him. Case closed.”
Echoing this, Anne Chinwe commented, “Well, Yahaya Bello is being prosecuted, since the case is now in court. It is left to see how the law plays out or whether this is just going to be one of those cases that will just fade away.”
However, other users expressed skepticism about the EFCC’s sincerity and Olukoyede’s commitment.
@Lekside34 criticized, “He even climbed pulpit on Sunday ooo. Fucking liar from the pit of hell… Na pastor oooo.”
Meanwhile, @AbdulkareemAyub defended the EFCC chairman’s position, stating, “Prosecution is taking someone to court which they have done. It’s left for the court to judge they are still on it. Chairman can’t sentence him from his office, it’s the job of the court.”
Another user, @mickeymore121, doubted the political will behind the case, writing, “Him no get the liver. Yaya Bello started politics before the EFCC chairman was appointed. Them no born EFCC chairman well make him raise the case again or else, him go lose him job, that same day.”
While Olukoyede’s declaration last year was widely seen as an assertion of his commitment to fighting corruption, the protracted nature of high profile corruption cases in Nigeria, often affected by legal technicalities, has fueled public frustration. For now, Yahaya Bello’s trial continues, with Nigerians keenly watching not just the court proceedings but also whether Olukoyede will stand by his promise if the prosecution falters.
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