EFCC vs Yahaya Bello: EFCC Chairman’s media rants doesn't affect the case in court - Bwala told

Muiz Adeyemi Banire, a legal practitioner opines the media engagement by Olanipekun Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the controversy surrounding the arrest of embattled Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello will not affect the case in court.

Daniel Bwala, a former spokesperson for the now-defunct Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council emphasized the need for reform within the commission after several revelations on the treatment of the case.

He also condemned the commission for what he described as the “trial by media” approach of the agency.

He further noted that the EFCC Chairman erred when he disclosed he handed privileges to the former governor when he invited him for questioning.

Olukoyede pledged to pursue Bello’s prosecution to its conclusion and assured that those impeding the former governor’s arrest would face legal consequences.

Reacting to the public condemnation of EFCC, Banire, a former National Legal Adviser of All Progressives Congress (APC) said the public outcry by the antigraft agency doesn't affect the substantive case in court.

According to him, judgment will be made based on evidence provided in court.

"My very strong view of this is that the courts are insulated from social media and all those media parleys. A judge is not meant to lead by those pronouncements from the media parley at all. So, looking at it critically, it is the evidence before the courts that will determine the faith of the defendant and not what was said outside there," he said adding "I do not see it anyway hurting the case of either party in court."