Wednesday night, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja, in a bid to forcefully
arrest the former governor.
The claim comes hours after Bello’s media office said the
ex-governor had honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation.
The EFCC had immediately denied that Bello was in its
custody, restating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was still
a wanted man.
However, Bello’s media office responded by saying the
politician was not interrogated when he visited the EFCC office and was turned
back.
“He was accompanied
to the commission’s office by Gov Usman Ododo,” the media team had said.
‘THEY SHOT
SPORADICALLY’
In a statement issued on Wednesday night, Ohiare Michael,
director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, said the operatives shot
sporadically during the siege.
“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.”
BACKGROUND
On April 18, 2024, the EFCC declared Bello wanted over
alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation to the tune of
N80.2 billion.
The commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts
to arrest him proved unsuccessful.
Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, would later allege that Bello
withdrew $720,000 from Kogi’s coffers to pay his child’s school fees in
advance.
The anti-graft agency also filed a 19-count charge against
Bello over alleged money laundering.
However, the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of
the former governor.
In May, Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel to Bello, told the
court that the former governor’s whereabouts remain unknown and that he was
nurturing some safety concerns.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to
surrender himself for arraignment.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, had said the court’s ruling
was a “vindication” of the EFCC’s stance that Bello must face trial.
Sources have said that Bello has been hiding in plain sight
— holed up in the “protective custody” of the Kogi state government — since he
was declared wanted by the EFCC.
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