The cat-and-mouse game between the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continued Wednesday night as operatives of the anti-graft agency stormed the Kogi State Governor’s lodge in the Asokoro District of Abuja in another attempt to arrest him.
The operatives, who laid siege to the lodge where Bello and his successor, Governor Ahmed Ododo, were cooling off after the cat-and-mouse game with EFCC earlier in the day, were reportedly resisted by security agents at the lodge.
The security personnel effectively shielded Bello from arrest, mimicking a similar drama few months back.
Reports said gunshots were heard in the precinct of the lodge as the altercation between EFCC operatives and security personnel at the lodge raged.
The operatives were reported to have left the lodge without Bello, who was apparently shielded by Governor Ododo.
Bello is on the wanted list of the EFCC for alleged mega looting of Kogi State treasury. The former Governor is being investigated for allegedly laundering a staggering N80.2 billion of Kogi State funds while he held sway as its Chief Executive.
However, calm reportedly returned to the area after the EFCC operatives left having failed yet again to get Yahaya Bello into custody.
The high drama between Bello and the EFCC began Wednesday morning when the Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, released a statement informing that the former governor had honoured EFCC’s invitation “after due consultation with his family, legal team and political allies.”
Michael further disclosed that the former Governor visited the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja in the company of his godson, Governor Ahmed Ododo. He released photos of Bello and Ododo arrival to support his claim.
But the EFCC promptly debunked the claim, declaring that Bello was not in its custody and he remained wanted “for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges”.
In the statement issued by EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the agency said:
“Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
The rebuttal by the anti-graft agency triggered another press release by Yahaya Bello’s media man, Ohiare Michael, who insisted that his principal actually honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency, accompanied by Usman Ododo; but that he was asked to leave by officials without interrogation.
Michael’s words: “We reiterated the former Governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, and stressed that, all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
“The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,”
The Crest recalls that Yahaya Bello, who has been slammed with a 19-count charge of laundering ₦80bn, had rebuffed previous invitations of the anti-graft agency and even boycotted court trials.
The cat-and-mouse game has kept many tongues wagging. It has set many Nigerians talking, wondering, and asking: How long would the hide-and-seek game that Yahaya Bello is playing with EFCC take? And why is the former Governor blatantly refusing to have his day in court? If he is sure he didn’t any wrongdoing while in office, why is not cooperating with law enforcement? Many questions, yearning for answers.
However, all things being equal, the case against the former Kogi State Governor will resume on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 having been adjourned till that date by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja.