Kogi state was never invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
In a statement signed by Ohiare Michael, Bello’s media
office said the anti-graft agency declared the former governor wanted without
sending an invitation his way.
The statement added that Bello is not afraid of the EFCC.
BACKGROUND
The EFCC is accusing the former governor of involvement in
the laundering of N80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi government.
On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege on Bello’s Abuja
residence in a bid to arrest him.
While the operatives were at Bello’s residence, Usman Ododo,
governor of Kogi, arrived at the scene.
Shortly after Ododo left the residence, the EFCC operatives
ended their siege.
Bello was believed to have been rescued from his residence
by Ododo.
Amid the drama, the Kogi high court delivered judgment in a
fundamental rights enforcement suit, restraining the commission from
“harassing, threatening to arrest or detaining” the former governor.
On the same day, the EFCC obtained a warrant of arrest against
Bello from a federal high court in Abuja.
Subsequently, the anti-graft agency declared the former
governor wanted, while the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) placed Bello on a
watchlist.
In the statement, Michael said Bello is not a fugitive
running from the law.
“Let it be known to all that Alhaji Yahaya Bello is not
afraid of the EFCC, he is not a fugitive running from the Law. All he demands
is that the rule of law be respected!!,” the statement reads.
‘BELLO WAS NEVER
INVITED’
In a statement on Monday, the EFCC had said Bello was
invited when his tenure ended but he refused to honour the invitation.
On April 23, Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chair, said he invited
Bello to his office for a dignified interrogation.
Olukoyede said Bello turned down the invitation and
requested operatives to come to his village instead.
The media office dared the anti-graft agency to prove that
Bello was ever invited.
“The EFCC stated that
they invited Alhaji Yahaya Bello immediately after his tenure ended on the 27th
of January 2024. We challenge the EFCC to publish a copy of the invitation
delivered to Yahaya Bello,” the statement reads.
“They should also tell Nigerians the date the alleged
invitation was delivered and who it was delivered to. We are certain that the
EFCC will not be able to produce any of the foregoing as to date, they have yet
to invite Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
“Indeed, just about
the end of his administration, several online news sites published that the
EFCC would arrest the Governor as soon as he handed over power to his successor
as they intended to charge him for alleged crimes committed as Governor of Kogi
State.
“True to the stories, the EFCC on the 5th day of February
2023 in an ongoing trial of other persons, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/22
before Honourable Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja
Division, amended the Charge to include in Count 1 thereof, the allegation that
Yahaya Bello conspired with others, including a Kogi State Government House
Cashier, in September 2015, to convert the sum of 80 Billion.
“The news of the inclusion of his name in the Charge as
usual was given wide publicity by the EFCC who still had not invited him but
had described him as being at large.
“It was thus clear from the foregoing that the EFCC was out
for mischief. A stage was being set to move in a gestapo manner to his home,
lay siege there and violently arrest him with the aim of tarnishing his name
and ruining his reputation as if he were a fugitive even though he was not
invited.”
‘EFCC VIOLATING COURT
ORDER’
Michael accused the EFCC of violating the court order
barring the agency from harassing the former governor.
“For the protection of his reputation, rights to presumption
of innocence, liberty, and dignity of the human person, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as
a Law abiding Citizen, caused to be filed a Fundamental Rights Enforcement
action in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello v. Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission on the 8th day of February 2024, at the High Court
of Justice, Kogi State,” the media office said.
“The belief of the imminent dramatic arrest, which
eventually occurred on the 17th of April 2024 in Abuja, was indeed predicted in
paragraph 36(c) of the Affidavit in Support of the Originating Summons filed on
the 8th of February 2024.
“Upon the above facts, particularly that he was to be
investigated, invited, arrested, or prosecuted on an impossible allegation, the
High Court granted him reprieve by restraining the EFCC from inviting,
arresting, and prosecuting him, pending the determination of the Originating
Motion for the enforcement of his fundamental rights. The said Order was served
on the EFCC on the 12th day of February 2024.”
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