Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday night attempted to apprehend the former Lead Representative of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, at the Kogi State Governor’s lodge in the Asokoro District in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Notwithstanding, there was some resistance by security operatives at the Lead Representative’s lodge as gunshots leased the air during the altercation.
The whole area has been cordoned off and movements around that area have likewise been restricted to just operatives of the EFCC and other security agencies stationed there.
Unconfirmed sources say the former Lead Representative has now left the governor’s lodge in the company of the incumbent Kogi State Lead Representative, Ahmed Ododo.
Likewise, some sense, of normalcy seems to have returned around the Kogi State governor’s lodge after the attempt by the EFCC operatives to apprehend Bello.
This is the most recent on what has ended up to be a chaotic chain of events surrounding Yahaya Bello, who has been on the wanted list of the EFCC for having purportedly laundered N80.2 billion.
After months of being pronounced wanted by the EFCC, an assertion by the Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, on Wednesday, said the former Lead Representative honoured the 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 Lead Representative was not in its custody and remains wanted.
As indicated by Yahaya Bello’s media office, the former Kogi Lead Repesentative 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.
Circling back to his earlier statement, Ohiare Michael disclosed another statement keeping up with the fact that Bello honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency, however was asked to leave by officials without cross-examination.
As indicated by him, the former Lead Representative 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 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 supposed tax evasion to the tune of N80bn.
Be that as it may, Bello has consistently turned down EFCC’s invitations for questioning and has consistently absconded from court trials.
His case was recently adjourned by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja to September 25.
