Activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has labelled Nigeria as a paradise of thieves. His comment comes following the recent arraignment of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello over allegations of embezzlement.

Sowore stated that Nigeria has become a country where crime is rewarded “boldly, unabashedly, and unashamedly.”

On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Bello and two others, Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

They are facing 16 counts of charges, including conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

Bello was scheduled to answer the N110.4bn charge preferred against him before Justice Anenih. He was previously billed to take his plea before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja in another pending alleged N84bn charge brought against him by the commission.

Sowore expressed concern after Bello was permitted to have such an amount of security upon his arrival at the court for his arraignment.

Taking to his X page to share his thoughts, Sowore 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.”

Bello and the two others pleaded not guilty. The court adjourned the trial till December 10, denied bail and ordered his remand in EFCC custody.