Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, September 18, surrounded the Kogi State Government L
The situation was brought to public attention by Ohiare Michael, Director of Yahaya Bello’s Media Office, who issued a statement titled, Despite voluntary visit, EFCC officials surround Kogi Government Lodge, Abuja in an attempt to forcefully arrest former governor Yahaya Bello, fire gunshots.
Earlier that day, tensions flared between Bello’s media team and the EFCC over the former governor’s controversial visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to Bello’s media team, the former governor had voluntarily appeared at the EFCC office, months after being declared wanted in connection with an alleged N80.2 billion fraud, in order to clear his name. However, they claimed that the EFCC refused to engage with him.
Meanwhile, the EFCC spokesman issued a counterstatement, asserting that Bello was not in their custody. Despite the earlier visit, later that night, Bello’s media office raised alarm over a fresh attempt by EFCC operatives to arrest him at the Kogi Government Lodge.
Michael said, “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. They were shooting sporadically.
“It was reported earlier that the former Governor went to the EFCC office voluntarily earlier today but the commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount a Gestapo-like attack on the Kogi State 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 were fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption. This action reflects much more than the fight against corruption.”
The EFCC filed 19 charges of money laundering against former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, involving a total of N80.2 billion. After several unsuccessful attempts to arrest and bring Bello to court, the EFCC declared him wanted in April.
In August, the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued an order for Bello to turn himself in for arraignment. Despite this, on Wednesday, Yahaya Bello’s media director, Ohiare Michael, stated that the former governor voluntarily responded to the EFCC’s invitation after consulting with his legal team and political allies, asserting that he had nothing to hide.
However, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale refuted claims that Bello was in their custody, reiterating that the former governor remained a wanted man.
Oyewale said, “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 is incorrect. The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody. Bello, already declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
The EFCC’s statement directly contradicted Michael’s earlier claim that former Governor Yahaya Bello had voluntarily responded to the agency’s invitation.
In a follow-up statement, Bello’s media office, through its director, reiterated that the former governor had indeed visited the EFCC headquarters, accompanied by his successor, Usman Ododo. Michael further alleged that the EFCC did not question Bello during the visit and simply informed him that he was free to leave.
Michael said, “Earlier today, we reported the voluntary visit of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office to honour the commission’s invitation.
“In the statement, 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, Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“Recall that the case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. The former governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”
