The Center for Justice and Peace (CJP) has officially denied claims that it called for the arrest of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. During a press conference in Abuja, Dr. Stephen Okparaibe, the Director General of CJP, made it clear that the organization had no part in issuing any statement regarding Bello’s arrest.
Okparaibe expressed disappointment over what he described as a deliberate attempt by politically motivated individuals to tarnish the organization’s reputation. He alleged that certain politicians hired impostors to impersonate CJP in a bid to cause confusion and undermine the credibility of the group. He emphasized that such actions would not be tolerated.
He further criticized certain media outlets for giving a platform to these impostors, spreading a false narrative that contradicted CJP’s core values of justice, peace, and non-partisanship.
Addressing the issue of Yahaya Bello’s legal troubles, Okparaibe noted that CJP does not align itself with any political agenda and would not call for the arrest of someone already cooperating with authorities. Yahaya Bello had voluntarily surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning, and CJP emphasized that the organization supports allowing the judicial process to unfold naturally without interference.
The group has also called on national security agencies to investigate the individuals responsible for the impersonation and urged the relevant authorities to take legal action against them.
In conclusion, CJP reiterated its commitment to supporting the rule of law and protecting Nigeria’s democratic values while distancing itself from the controversy involving Yahaya Bello.
