A popular human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has spoken out against the alleged shielding of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, from facing prosecution over an N80.2 billion fraud case.

According to Adeyanju, President Bola Tinubu is protecting Bello from being arrested by security agents, despite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) initiating fraud cases against him.

Adeyanju said that Bello no longer enjoys immunity and should be arrested and prosecuted for the alleged misappropriation of funds during his tenure as governor. He expressed concern that while protesters are being arrested and detained for exercising their rights, Bello remains free despite the EFCC’s warrant for his arrest.

“People say Yahaya Bello is above the law. No, he is not. It is the president that is shielding Yahaya Bello because there is no way that a man would be alleged of stealing 80 billion (naira), the EFCC has gone to court, the EFCC has a warrant for his arrest, the EFCC attempted to arrest him, he evaded arrest.

“Bello, the former governor of Kogi State who is currently above the law, who no longer has immunity or enjoys immunity, Bello is free, walking the streets but protesters have been arrested here in Abuja and other parts of the country and they spent two weeks in custody for protesting.

Their only crime is that they protested. In Katsina, protesters were arrested; they gave them a summary trial in a police station, then an adjournment was given for a month’s time. That means those protesters will be in custody for one month for protesting but Yahaya Bello walks free,” he said while speaking with Arise News.