The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a declaration, branding former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello as wanted for his alleged involvement in a staggering financial crime amounting to N80.2 billion.
The anti-corruption agency made the announcement via a Facebook post, urging individuals with pertinent information regarding Bello’s whereabouts to promptly report to the commission or the nearest police station.
“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 Billion,” the EFCC said in a Thursday evening post on its Facebook page it captioned ‘Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello Wanted By the EFCC’.
“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest police Station.”
Earlier in the day, Bello was notably absent from the Federal High Court in Abuja for a suit filed against him by the EFCC, prompting Justice Emeka Nwite to adjourn the proceedings for substituted service and the potential arraignment of Bello on charges of money laundering.
Prior to the court proceedings, fiery-looking EFCC operatives stormed the former Kogi leader’s residence in the Wuse area of Abuja, attempting to arrest Bello for arraignment. Despite the siege, which lasted hours, the agency could not arrest the former governor whom it claimed was “whisked away” by his successor Usman Ododo.
The EFCC denounced this maneuver as an attempt to impede its operations, denouncing it as a blatant obstruction.
In response to the escalating conflict, Bello’s media office characterized the EFCC’s actions as a politically motivated witch hunt against the former governor.
“Looking at the curious and endless scenarios of duplicated charges, cross-charges, counter and frivolous charges by the EFCC against former Governor Yahaya Bello, it has become crystal clear that the whole onslaught is nothing but a desperate political witch-hunt of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State,” his media office said in a statement.
The legal battle between Bello and the EFCC has been further complicated by conflicting court orders.
Justice I. A Jamil of the Kogi State High Court in Lokoja had on Wednesday restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting the former governor.
“By this order, the EFCC is hereby restrained from arresting, detaining, and prosecuting the applicant except as authorised by the Court,” he said. “This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given.”
Undeterred, the EFCC got permission from the Federal High Court in Abuja to arrest Bello ahead of his arrangement on Thursday.
Bello’s trials come about three months after he handed over to his party man Ododo, ending an eight-year stint that began on January 27, 2016.
