By Damilare Adeleye
On August 22, 2024, the Economic Financial Crime Commission told Nigerians that it was making efforts along with local and international organisations to make sure that former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, is answerable to all the allegations of misappropriation of public funds levelled against him.
The anti-graft agency, who declared the wanted former governor as fugitive, insisted that he would be arrested if he’s sighted anywhere in the open brought to justice.
EFCC’s head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, said this on Thursday, August 22 during an interview on News Central.
He said, “What the court of appeal is saying is just to amplify the position of the commission and also to establish the fact that we are focused on this matter.
“As it is now, Yahaya Bello cannot come into the open. He cannot make himself available anywhere because he has become a fugitive, and we all know the instruments of the law—anywhere he is sighted, he would be arrested.
“He is hiding, he has gone underground. Every law enforcement agency, both local and international agencies are involved.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt that EFCC bowed to certain groups’ pressure and refused to detain the former Kogi governor when he came to surrender himself to the anti-graft agency on Wednesday, September 18.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ohiare Michael, Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, asserted that the embattled past governor decided to honour EFCC’s long time invitation “after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies.”
“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. 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 former Governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development; supports the fight against corruption in the country.
“It is on record that he was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the State work for the people of the State. “He was accompanied to the EFCC Headquarters by high-profile Nigerians.
“It is our hope that the Commission will be as professional as necessary 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,” the statement read.
However, his visit to the EFCC yesterday plagued by controversy with the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency denying reports that the former governor was in their custody.
“The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody,” he said, adding that Bello “remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest”.
In swift reaction, the director of Bello’s media team, Ohiare Michael, responded that his principal indeed visited the EFCC office but was asked to leave with being interrogated.
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 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, Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo.”
However, reports have emerged that EFCC was handicapped to arrest and detain wanted Bello due to political pressure.An insider source said Bello’s appearance at the EFCC headquarters was the result of a negotiation between his camp and President Bola Tinubu’s camp.
“There is a lot of pressure on the agency. The Inspector General of Police is also involved and Bello’s Chief Security Officer they claimed was arrested for bungling his arrest was never detained contrary to what they told the public,” the insider source disclosed to the press.
“He had hunkered down at the State House in Lokoja and stayed also at the liaison office of the Kogi State since he went into hiding. Today’s appearance was negotiated between Tinubu and Yahaya Bello’s camp,” the source added.
Another source also corroborated, saying: “Yahaya Bello actually went to EFCC but due to pressure, they could not detain him. Now they are claiming that he only came because they monitored him and located him in Abuja. And that he will be trailed to his hideout tonight and arrested. This is a lie.”
The anti-graft commission had charged Bello with 19 counts of money laundering and corrupt practices over N80.2 billion, which he allegedly diverted from the Kogi State Government’s treasury.
Bello was also accused of indirectly using the chief of staff to the incumbent governor; Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu to launder the sum of N950 million being proceeds of crime for the acquisition of a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
However, since filing the charges, the commission has not been able to bring him to court for arraignment.
The wanted fugitive has snubbed six court sessions scheduled for his arraignment.
Bello had previously resisted arrest and shunned multiple EFCC invitations, leading to a dramatic scene at his Abuja residence.
The EFCC had obtained a warrant for his arrest, but his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, prevented the commission to carry out the lawful arrest.
On August 20, 2024, a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja ordered Bello to present himself for arraignment.
The court also restrained Bello from taking further action in the case until his arraignment. Additionally, the court set aside the judgment previously delivered by the Kogi State High Court to shield the wanted suspect from investigation and trial.