Yahaya Bello: We’ll not tolerate obstruction of operations going forward, says EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called out the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo for allegedly using his official vehicle and security cordons to protect and transport his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, whom EFCC agents were pursuing.
The agents had barricaded Mr Bello’s residence in Abuja on Wednesday in an attempt to arrest him for suspected abuse of office.
Officers of the EFCC, alongside other armed security personnel, had barricaded the former governor’s Abuja home, blocking both entrances to his residence located at Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, at about 9. am.
However, things took an unexpected turn when it was reported that the current governor, Ododo, arrived on the scene and moved away a few hours later with his predecessor.
Meanwhile, some security officials at the scene who are dumbfounded, indicated that Ododo may have whisked away his predecessor in his vehicle.
In reaction to the episode, EFCC in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its spokesperson Dele Oyewale, said the Commission’s attempt to execute the Warrant of Arrest lawfully obtained against Bello met stiff resistance at Bello’s residence.
The anti-graft agency further accused Mr Ododo of ensuring that Mr Bello was spirited away in his official vehicle. “As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment on Thursday, April 18, 2024”. The EFCC said.
It also noted that “Mr Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible.
Plans for Arraignment
The EFCC has also disclosed it will be arraigning Mr Bello before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80 billion.
According to the statement, the former governor would be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu.
Bello had in the past been accused by the EFCC of corruption. At the time, he was serving as the governor of Kogi state from 2016 to 2023 and was, therefore, immune from arrest. However, during the tenure of Abdulrasheed Bawa as the EFCC chairman, the Commission accused the former governor of diverting state funds into private accounts.
On its part, the Kogi state government had accused the EFCC of trying to embarrass its government to save face. According to the government, the EFCC’s investigation into a N20 billion Sterling Bank bailout loan case was met with a roadblock, and the commission is now targeting the government to deflect attention from its failure to bring the case to a successful conclusion.
Bello, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu are also facing similar charges of corruption related to alleged money laundering offences amounting to N84 billion, according to a statement published by the EFCC via its X account last month.
The EFCC accused Bello and others of misappropriation of funds, breach of trust and money laundering and has filed an amended 17-count charge against them. The case will be heard before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
