A public appeal by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, over the ongoing prosecution of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has ignited intense debate, frustration and criticism across Nigeria’s social media space, reopening long-standing concerns about judicial delays and selective justice in high-profile corruption cases.
The controversy followed comments attributed to the EFCC chairman, who said: “I have arrested Yahaya Bello, charged him to court, and the case is now in court. Nigerians should tell the judge to do his work.” The remark, widely circulated online, was perceived by many Nigerians as an unusual call for public pressure on the judiciary.
Yahaya Bello is currently facing two major criminal trials. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, is presiding over an alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering case, while Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT High Court in Maitama is handling a separate ₦110.4 billion fraud and criminal breach of trust charge.
Rather than calming public anxiety, the EFCC chairman’s statement appeared to deepen scepticism. Critics argue that the frustration is not about whether the case is technically before the courts, but about what they describe as a familiar pattern of delay in politically sensitive prosecutions.
One commentator, Hephzibah Behulah, captured this sentiment, saying: “Public frustration isn’t about doubting that the case is ‘in court’. It’s about the pattern Nigerians have seen for decades: big men get charged with fanfare, then everything quietly drags on forever while smaller suspects get swift hammer.” She added that asking citizens to pressure judges “is not accountability; it’s deflection.”
Others questioned what practical role ordinary Nigerians could play in influencing judicial proceedings. “But what can Nigerians do? We don’t have any say,” wrote one user, while another asked pointedly: “Which of the judges do we reach out to?”
The remarks have also revived arguments for structural reform of the justice system. Alatika Baba suggested that the EFCC should be backed by dedicated courts, arguing that “our conventional courts are overwhelmed with massive backlogs… some cases last for 15 years with no conclusion.”
According to him, special financial crimes courts could ensure faster and more focused prosecutions.
Beyond judicial delays, several Nigerians accused the EFCC of inconsistency in enforcement. Comparisons were drawn between the treatment of politically exposed persons and that of cybercrime suspects. One critic remarked sarcastically: “In one breath, this man is saying they can break people’s doors in the middle of the night, but Yahaya Bello’s door is made of persona non grata.”
Another commenter asked: “Why is he not in detention? The Yahoo boys you arrested and charged to court — do you give them the same freedom?”
There were also sharp attacks on the media’s handling of the issue. Some viewers accused interviewers of being too soft on the EFCC chairman. “No hard questions, no follow-up questions… rather he’s the one making you uncomfortable at your job,” one user complained, while others called for more probing journalism on corruption cases.
The controversy has even reignited broader criticism of Nigeria’s judiciary itself. Recalling a past remark by former President Muhammadu Buhari, one commenter noted: “He said the only problem in this country is the judiciary. They waste too much time on vivid corruption cases and grant bail when people are supposed to be in prison.”
For some, however, the EFCC chairman’s comments were seen as indirectly implicating judges. “Is he trying to say the court has not been doing its work?” one user asked, warning that such statements risk undermining confidence in the justice system.
As public anger continues to simmer, the Yahaya Bello trials have once again become a symbol of Nigeria’s struggle with accountability, judicial efficiency and public trust. While the EFCC insists its job ends once charges are filed, many Nigerians argue that justice is not merely about filing cases, but about seeing them concluded transparently and without undue delay.
