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EFCC Vs Kogi former governor,Yahaya Bello
What can be likened as a fight between the cat and the rat, the former governor of Kogi state, yahaya Bello went into hiding after he was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC .
On April 18th 2024, the efcc declared the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted for offences relating to economic and financial crimes.
The anti graft agency made the declaration in a notice on the commission’s official Facebook page accusing him of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88
Yahaya Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) put on a dramatic show on April 17 when its operatives stormed the Abuja residence of former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, to effect an arrest.
Their plan did not go down well after meeting a resistance from apparently stronger forces.
A group of armed men, identified as “Special Forces,” along with officers from the Nigeria Police Force, intervened to prevent the EFCC operatives from apprehending yahaya Bello at his Abuja residence.
The ‘show’ turned into an unpleasant entertainment of some sort as neighbours and passers-by were thrown into fear and confusion.
This is as the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, intervened to prevent the arrest of the former governor of the state by EFCC operatives.
Ododo’s team escorted Bello out of the location in the governor’s vehicle.
Following the unsuccessful attempt to arrest him, the EFCC put out a disclaimer the next day, declaring Bello wanted to answer for allegations of N80 billion fraud. Taking this a step further, the Nigeria Immigration Service shut down any attempt by Yahaya Bello to sneak out of the country either by road, sea or air as all the ports and borders were alerted to watch out for that one man.
The DSS and police were alerted to effect Bello’s arrest.
The notice asked anybody with useful information about the former governor’s whereabouts to contact any of the commission’s offices across the country.
This was after the EFCC was granted a warrant of arrest by the Federal High Court in Abuja to apprehend the former governor, and since then nothing about Bello’s arrest.
That was more than two weeks ago, and after all the show of force, Yahaya Bello is yet to turn himself in, and neither the EFCC, DSS, police, Immigration, Customs, Civil Defence, Road Safety nor any other law enforcement agency has been able to find him.
Bello is a popular political figure, well-known within and outside the shores of the country. He was a two-time governor of Kogi state who spent eight good years on that seat. Throughout his term as governor, he was the youngest in Nigeria, and the only governor born after the Nigerian Civil War.
His ambition got to a peak when he declared his interest in running in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential elections.
So, where is Yahaya Bello?
Is he in Abuja? Kogi? Lagos? Sambisa? Or somewhere in Owerri chilling?
Is he still in Nigeria, or has he since made his way outside with the help of members of those who claimed to be looking for him?
Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed at the court on May 10th 2024 however agreed to appear and face trial on 13th of June at the Federal high court in Abuja, a date now fixed by the Court for his arraignment.
This is after the former governor failed to show up in court two times on 19-count charge.
Nigerians are waiting earnestly for the outcome of these whole drama.
© IHIMHEKPEN OSCAR OGIEMHONYI
On April 18th 2024, the efcc declared the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted for offences relating to economic and financial crimes.
The anti graft agency made the declaration in a notice on the commission’s official Facebook page accusing him of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88
Yahaya Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) put on a dramatic show on April 17 when its operatives stormed the Abuja residence of former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, to effect an arrest.
Their plan did not go down well after meeting a resistance from apparently stronger forces.
A group of armed men, identified as “Special Forces,” along with officers from the Nigeria Police Force, intervened to prevent the EFCC operatives from apprehending yahaya Bello at his Abuja residence.
The ‘show’ turned into an unpleasant entertainment of some sort as neighbours and passers-by were thrown into fear and confusion.
This is as the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, intervened to prevent the arrest of the former governor of the state by EFCC operatives.
Ododo’s team escorted Bello out of the location in the governor’s vehicle.
Following the unsuccessful attempt to arrest him, the EFCC put out a disclaimer the next day, declaring Bello wanted to answer for allegations of N80 billion fraud. Taking this a step further, the Nigeria Immigration Service shut down any attempt by Yahaya Bello to sneak out of the country either by road, sea or air as all the ports and borders were alerted to watch out for that one man.
The DSS and police were alerted to effect Bello’s arrest.
The notice asked anybody with useful information about the former governor’s whereabouts to contact any of the commission’s offices across the country.
This was after the EFCC was granted a warrant of arrest by the Federal High Court in Abuja to apprehend the former governor, and since then nothing about Bello’s arrest.
That was more than two weeks ago, and after all the show of force, Yahaya Bello is yet to turn himself in, and neither the EFCC, DSS, police, Immigration, Customs, Civil Defence, Road Safety nor any other law enforcement agency has been able to find him.
Bello is a popular political figure, well-known within and outside the shores of the country. He was a two-time governor of Kogi state who spent eight good years on that seat. Throughout his term as governor, he was the youngest in Nigeria, and the only governor born after the Nigerian Civil War.
His ambition got to a peak when he declared his interest in running in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential elections.
So, where is Yahaya Bello?
Is he in Abuja? Kogi? Lagos? Sambisa? Or somewhere in Owerri chilling?
Is he still in Nigeria, or has he since made his way outside with the help of members of those who claimed to be looking for him?
Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed at the court on May 10th 2024 however agreed to appear and face trial on 13th of June at the Federal high court in Abuja, a date now fixed by the Court for his arraignment.
This is after the former governor failed to show up in court two times on 19-count charge.
Nigerians are waiting earnestly for the outcome of these whole drama.
© IHIMHEKPEN OSCAR OGIEMHONYI
