EFCC raids Kogi governor’s lodge to arrest Yahaya Bello
The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have reportedly laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja, in a bid to arrest the former governor forcefully.
According to a statement issued byOhiare Michael, Director, Media Office of Yahaya Bello, the anti-graft agency laid the siege on the lodge on Wednesday night, September 18, 2204.
He alleged that the anti-graft officers shot sporadically in the air in a bid to carry out their aim.
The statement reads; “It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello,” the statement reads.
“They were shooting sporadically. It was reported earlier that the former Governor went to the EFCC Office voluntarily, but the commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount an attack on the Kogi Government facility in Asokoro.
“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him.
“Tonight’s attack was needless as the former Governor made himself available to the EFCC in their office for interrogation. The EFCC had no question to ask Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they are out to arrest him.
“This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they are fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption. This action reflects much more than a fight against corruption. We will keep Nigerians posted.”
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 seem 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.
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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 in order 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.