Yahaya Bello: Naija na paradise for thieves – Sowore

Di African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate for di 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, don talk say Naija na haven for thieves.

Di popular activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters don talk say di country don turn place wey dem dey reward criminal activities “boldly, unabashedly, and unashamedly.”

According to di report, Sowore talk say e follow wetin happen wen dem carry di former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, go court on top charge wey involve N110 billion.

On Wednesday, di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) carry Bello go Federal Capital Territory High Court, dey accuse am say e don embezzle $11 million wen e dey serve as governor.

Sowore criticize say Bello get plenty security protection wen e reach court for di proceedings.

E go his official X handle come write: “Naija na paradise for thieves! Naija na country wey crime dey rewarded boldly, no shame at all.”

“Dis na former Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello, wey dem accuse say e steal N110 billion ($11m) from im small state resources; for months.”

“Bello refuse to surrender to law enforcement officers for di Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), dey protected by di hierarchy of Naija Police and di Naija secret police wey dem dey call DSS.”

Wen e finally show face to be “arrested” and dem carry am go court, e dey smile, dey shine from ear to ear, no dey worry at all.

“E sabi say nothing go happen; him victims dey there for court too to give am moral support and encouragement; dem even swear say e go become Naija next president #Revolutionnow.”

Di report say afta e plead say e no guilty on Wednesday, di court adjourn Bello trial till December 10 while dem order make dem keep am for EFCC custody.

Activism 

For 1989, e join student dem wey dey protest for di condition of one International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan of $120 million wey dem wan use for Naija oil pipeline.

One of di condition wey dey give  di IMF loan na to reduce di number of universities for Naija from 28 to 5.

For 1992, Sowore lead 5,100 students to protest against Naija government.

Di protest make police open fire and kill seven protesters.

Dem arrest Sowore and torture am. Omoyele still dey involved for di demand make democratic government take over military rule for Naija on 12 June 1993.

Dis one cause plenty arrests, detentions and life-threatening treatment of protesters by government officials.

A journalist, Niyi Babade, for him memoir wey never publish, still dey recognize Sowores effort for di12 June struggle.

Dem come out from one grey motor wey no get mark, wey no announce, and dem see di bad things wey dey happen, then dem start to fire gun for all of us.

I spend some good time for my resting place, di gutter, until I hear di singing voices of di students from University of Lagos wey Yele Sowore (wey don turn Sahara reporter) dey lead, as dem dey go Abiola house.

I crawl come out from wia I dey hide and try to snap exclusive picture wendi bad boys among di students come attack me and wan collect my camera but with di brave effort of Sowore.

Dem spare me and allow me join dem, as one of di bad boys and a journalist wey give me access to exclusive footage of that day, until we reach Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola house.

Arrest 

For 12 January 2017, Lagos State Police Command arrest Sowore because one magazine publisher, Lekan Fatodu, make petition.

Later for evening that same day, Sowore confirm di mata for one video wey he post for him Facebook wall, wiahe accuse di police say dem dey support Fatodu while him dey assault am for Area F Police Command.

Treason charges 

Sowore dey face treason charges. Sowore arrest by DSS for 3 August 2019, before dem plan nationwide #RevolutionNow protest.

Federal Government, wey later admit say dem arrest am, receive plenty condemnation from Wole Soyinka, Oby Ezekwesili and many other activists.

Him later charge with conspiracy to commit treason and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

On 24 September 2019, Federal High Court Abuja give Sowore bail, but e get condition say make e surrender im international passport within forty-eight hours.

DSS no gree release Sowore, dem dey claim say dem no sabi di court order.

DSS refusal to release Sowore cause protest for UN Plaza for New York, led by Sowore wife, and e don spark global outcry on Naija failed democracy.

On 29 September 2019, Sowore make im first appearance for media since dem detain am.

E talk say dem treat am bad, lock am for dark room wey no get sunlight.

E also mention say Boko Haram commanders wey dey do high level terrorism get access to telephone, TV and even cable for dia cells while dem dey deny am such access.

Di court again set Sowore free on 5 December 2019, confirm say e don.

settle him bail terms. But, change come wen DSS operatives enter di place to re-arrest am. Dem finally release am on 24 December 2019.

On 8 December 2021, Federal High Court, Abuja, order Department of State Services (DSS) make dem pay Omoyele Sowore, 2 million Naira for di unlawful take of him mobile phone in 2019 wen dem arrest am.

For March 2022, e report say Omoyele Sowore sue Naija Police Force and three other pipo for Federal High Court, Abuja, because dem violate him fundamental human rights.

For September 2024, Naija Immigration Service (NIS) hold Sowore for Murtala Muhammed airport wen e land from United States as dem talk say e dey plan anoda protest for October.

Dem release am afta small detention and dem seize im passport according to wetin e post for im Verified X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Sahara Reporters

Sowore start Sahara Reporters for New York City for 2006 to fight against corrupt and wrong government practices.

Sahara Reporters dey get support from grants wey come from Ford Foundation and Omidyar Foundation.

As part of im policy, Sahara no dey collect adverts and financial support from Naija Government.

On 25 February 2018, Sowore talk say e wan run for presidency for 2019 Naija general election.

For August 2018, e start political party, di African Action Congress (AAC), wey e go run for in 2019.

On 6 October 2018, afta e win primary elections for AAC national convention, Omoyele Sowore come out as di Presidential Candidate for di party without any challenge.

Afta e don waka for plenty states for Naija, visit important pipo like di Emir of Kano and Wole Soyinka, Sowore begin fundraising tour around di world including Australia, United States of America and UK.

E dey Luton, England, on 10 November 2018.

Sowore still contest di2023 general election as di presidential candidate of him party (AAC) wia e get 14,608 votes, an election wey e talk say na selection.

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