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Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday night attempted to arrest the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, at the Kogi State Governor’s lodge in the Asokoro District in the Federal Capital Territory.
However, there was some resistance by security operatives at the governor’s lodge as gunshots rented the air during the altercation.
The entire area has been cordoned off and movements around that area have also been restricted to only operatives of the EFCC and other security agencies stationed there.
Unconfirmed reports say the former governor has now left the governor’s lodge in the company of the incumbent Kogi State governor, Ahmed Ododo.
Also, normalcy seems to have returned around the Kogi State governor’s lodge after the attempt by the operatives to arrest Bello.
This is the latest on what has turned out to be a roller coaster of events surrounding Yahaya Bello, who has been on the wanted list of the EFCC for having allegedly laundered N80.2 billion.
After months of being declared wanted by the EFCC, a statement by the Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, on Wednesday, said the former governor honoured EFCC invitation “after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies”.
But in a swift reaction to the statement by Bello’s media team, the EFCC said the former governor was not in its custody and remains wanted.
According to Yahaya Bello’s media office, the former Kogi governor and his successor Usman Ododo were at the EFCC office on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale said the ex-governor remains wanted “for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges”.
“Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest,” Oyewale said in a statement.
Following up with his earlier statement, Ohiare Michael released another statement maintaining that Bello honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency but was asked to leave by officials without interrogation.
According to him, the former governor was accompanied to the EFCC office by his successor, Usman Ododo.
“We reiterated the former Governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, and stressed that all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process.
“The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,” the statement read in part.
Bello was sued by the EFCC on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80bn.
However, Bello has consistently refused to honour EFCC’s invitations for questioning and has consistently boycotted court trials.
His case was recently adjourned by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja to September 25.
Pascal Arogorn Ibe
