Confusion As Aides Raise Alarm Over EFCC’s Move To Nab Ex-Gov Bello

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made fresh attempt to arrest former governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello.
According to Ohiare Michael, Director, Yahaya Bello Media Office, operatives of the commission laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja, in a bid to effect the arrest.
Mr Michael wondered why former Governor Bello was not interrogated when he presented himself to the commission.
Although Mr Bello’s media team said the former governor honoured the commission’s invitation earlier last Wednesday, the anti-graft agency described the claim as false.
“It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically.
“It was reported earlier that the former Governor went to the EFCC Office voluntarily earlier today but the Commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount a gestapo-like attack on the Kogi State Government facility in Asokoro.
“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him.
“Tonight’s attack was needless as the former Governor made himself available to the EFCC in their office for interrogation. The EFCC had no question to ask Alh. Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they are out to arrest him.
“This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they were fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption. This action reflects much more than the fight against corruption. We will keep Nigerians posted”, Mr Bello’s media team said.
Meanwhile, the media team of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) contradicted each other with reports of the presence of the ex-governor at the office of the anti-graft agency on Wednesday.
The Tide source had reported how the media office of the former governor, in a statement, claimed that Mr Bello honoured an invitation extended to him by the EFCC.
According to the media office, the decision was made after consultations with his family, legal team and political allies, adding that the details of Mr Bello’s engagement with the operatives of the anti-graft agency would be disclosed later.
The statement signed by Ohiare Michael, Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, said: “It is our hope that the Commission will be as professional as necessary and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
However, the EFCC, in a statement by Dele Oyewale, its spokesman, dismissed the claims that the former governor honoured its invitation.
The commission specifically said the former governor remained wanted for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges.
“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,” Oyewale said.
In response, the ex-governor’s media team released photos of him arriving at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, accompanied by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo.
A statement by the Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, which provided updates on the visit of the former governor to the anti-graft agency office in Abuja said, “EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. As we write, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office”.