Controversy has surrounded the reported visit of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC headqua
Controversy has surrounded the reported visit of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC headquarters.
While the ex-governor’s media team claimed that their principal honoured the invitation, the anti-graft agency countered these claims, insisting that Bello remains a wanted person.
IvoryNG reports that the development comes after months of hide and seek game between the operatives of the anti-graft agency and the former governor.
It will also be recalled that Bello was declared wanted by the EFCC after failing to honour the Commission’s invites and also not showing up in court for his arraignment over the fraud case.
However, on Wednesday, Bello, accompanied by his successor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, stormed the EFCC headquarters, according to him, to honour the agency’s invitation and clear his name from the allegations.
But the EFCC would later declare that Bello isn’t in their custody and is still a wanted man.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest,” the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said.
But, afterwards, in a statement signed by Ohiare Michael, the Head of Yahaya Bello Media Office, it said that Bello had since left the EFCC headquarters without being interrogated after its officials asked him to leave.
“Earlier today, we reported the voluntary visit of former Governor of Kogi State, HE Alh. 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 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,” Ohiare sated.
He added that Bello intended to use the opportunity to clear his name of the allegations against him.
“The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. It is important for the former governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name, as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear,” the statement continued.
“The former governor firmly believes in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development and supports the fight against corruption in the country.
“It is on record that he was the first governor of Kogi State to implement an anti-corruption mechanism to curb graft and ensure that the state’s resources benefit its people.
“He was accompanied to the EFCC headquarters by high-profile Nigerians. We hope that the commission will act professionally and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Details of his engagement with the operatives of the anti-graft agency will be disclosed later.”
