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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Nigeria Police Force has detained a female police officer who was the aide-de-camp (ADC) to embattled former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The ADC was arrested alongside other police officers attached Bello, and are being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Their arrests and detention followed an order by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, directing their immediate withdrawal from the former governor.
According to multiple reports, the officers were arrested on the suspicion that they aided and abetted Bello’s escape from operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who had gone to effect his arrest at his Abuja residence on Wednesday.
Egbetokun had on Thursday night ordered the withdrawal of all police officers attached to Bello.
The order for the withdrawal was contained in a police wireless message sighted by Newspeakonline.
“CB:4001/DOPS/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.48/ 34 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X FOLLOWING MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM NIGPOL.
“DOPS ABUJA X BEGINS X CB:4001/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.21/462 DTO:180955/04/2024 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X REF MYLET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/36 DATED 15/04/2024 X AND MY EARLIER LET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/30 DATED 24/01/2024 X Nigeria police have ordered the withdrawal of all men.
“Police attached to His Excellency and former Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, should acknowledge compliance and treat with utmost importance. Please above for your information and strict compliance,” the document read.
Also, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had on Thursday placed Bello on a watch list.
The NIS Comptroller General revealed that Bello was placed on a watchlist for conspiracy, breach of trust and money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier declared Bello wanted for laundering the sum of N80.2 billion.