Confusion and controversy have erupted over the whereabouts of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, following his visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters.
Despite claims from his media team that he voluntarily appeared at the EFCC to honor their invitation, the anti-graft agency has contradicted these assertions, stating that the ex-governor remains a wanted man.
The drama unfolded when Ohiare Michael, Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, announced that the former governor had gone to the EFCC to clear his name of serious money laundering charges.
According to Michael, the visit followed consultations with Bello’s legal team and close associates, with the former governor showing “great respect for the rule of law.”
“Former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, today honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” Michael’s statement read. He added that Bello took the opportunity to “clear his name” and reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s anti-corruption efforts.
However, the EFCC swiftly pushed back, denying that Bello had been taken into custody. EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said that not only was Bello not in their holding facility, but he also remained a wanted person, with a pending arrest warrant tied to allegations of laundering over N80 billion.
“Bello, who has already been declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest,” Oyewale clarified, leaving many to wonder what really transpired.
The back-and-forth only intensified when Bello’s media team claimed that although the former governor was at the EFCC headquarters, officials refused to interrogate him. According to Michael, after arriving with his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, Bello was told he could leave without any questioning.
This strange turn of events has raised eyebrows, with some questioning whether Bello is playing a strategic game with the legal system. Is the ex-governor attempting to create the illusion of cooperation, while avoiding the full weight of the law? Or is this simply a case of miscommunication between his camp and the anti-graft agency?
The fact remains that Yahaya Bello is facing 19 serious charges from the EFCC, which include allegations of money laundering involving massive sums of state funds. Despite attempts to arrest him, the former governor has evaded detention, leading the agency to declare him wanted.
