Yahaya Bello: Leave Ex-gov’s Children Out of Probe, Child’s Rights Advocates Tell EFCC

A group of child’s rights advocates under the aegis of The Child’s Rights Advocacy Network (CHILDRANE) has expressed deep concern over the plight of the Nigerian child in general. At a World Press Conference on Friday in Abuja, CHILDRANE specifically condemned the recent exposure of several minors to public scrutiny in the ongoing investigation of […]

A group of child’s rights advocates under the aegis of The Child’s Rights Advocacy Network (CHILDRANE) has expressed deep concern over the plight of the Nigerian child in general.

At a World Press Conference on Friday in Abuja, CHILDRANE specifically condemned the recent exposure of several minors to public scrutiny in the ongoing investigation of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

CHILDRANE spokesperson, Emmanuel Abah, who read their statement denounced the breach of privacy and other safeguards of Bello’s children via repeated references to them in EFCC’s press conferences and statements, emphasizing the need to protect children’s rights during legal processes.

Faced with such tactics the group warned that “The Nigerian child, our hope of any meaningful tomorrow as a nation, is now increasingly an endangered species.”

They also criticized the American International School, Abuja (AISA) for publicly disclosing her refund of the school fees paid for the children by their family to the EFCC, especially as “the action potentially violated the judgment in a case by the Bello family in which the school was a party, while summarily jeopardizing the well-being of children to whom she owed a direct duty of care.”

CHILDRANE therefore called upon the EFCC to cease actions targeting Bello’s children, adhere to due process always, and try to provide child protection training for its operatives in law enforcement situations.