Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The media office of Yahaya Bello, has alleged that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday night laid siege to the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja, in a bid to forcefully arrest the former governor.
The claim less than 24 hours after Bello’s media office claimed the ex-governor had honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation.
EFCC had on Wednesday denied that Bello was in its custody, restating that the he was still a wanted man.
However, Bello’s media office responded by saying the politician was not interrogated when he visited EFCC office, adding that he was turned back.
“He was accompanied to the commission’s office by Gov Usman Ododo,” the media office had said.
But a statement issued on Wednesday night by the director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, said the EFCC 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.
“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,” Ohiare said.
Recall that EFCC had on April 18, 2024 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.
EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, later alleged that Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi State Government’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.
However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja on August 20 ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
