Crime & SecurityNewsNigeriaN100 Billion Corruption Case Take New Turn As EFCC Seeks Yahaya Bello’s Arrest

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is reportedly on the run after narrowly evading arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFC, on Wednesday morning.

EFCC officers laid siege at the Wuse Zone 4, Abuja residence of Bello, who left office in January 2024, at exactly 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday to arrest the ex-governor.

The EFCC officials and armed security personnel barricaded Bello’s residence, blocking both entrances, but they were denied access by his security personnel.

However, the incumbent governor, Usman Ododo, intervened to impede the EFCC’s operation. Ododo reportedly drove off in the company of his predecessor.

This comes amidst a larger corruption case involving Bello. In March 2024, the EFCC included Bello’s name in an amended lawsuit accusing his nephew and former Chief of Staff, Alli Bello, of diverting N100 billion in state funds. Bello was not a defendant in the original suit, but the EFCC’s amended charges suggest they may be building a case against him.

Hours after the failed operation, the ex-governor’s media office condemned the action and urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC.

Bello’s media aide Onogwu Muhammed claimed the EFCC is out “to embarrass and harass the former governor by all means through spurious allegations.”

Muhammed, in a statement, said the EFCC disregarded a court order that restrained them from “harassing, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting the ex-governor.”

“The presence of EFCC’s operatives in Bello’s residence negated an injunction granted by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, on February 9,” said the media office.

“The EFCC was duly served with that order on February 12, and on February 26, it filed Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. The appeal was accompanied by a motion for a stay of execution of the order of the Lokoja High Court, and the Court of Appeal fixed hearing for April 22.”

“Furthermore, judgment in the substantive case between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC will be delivered at noon in Lokoja on Wednesday. Contrary to all of these, the EFCC has now laid siege to the home of Yahaya Bello, seeking to arrest him in contravention of extant orders. It is a surprise that an agency led by a lawyer could flagrantly disobey a subsisting court order by taking actions contrary to reliefs granted.”