Tension rose in Abuja on Wednesday as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) surrounded the Kogi State Government Lodge in a bid to arrest former governor Yahaya Bello. The move followed allegations of an N80.2 billion money laundering case linked to the ex-governor.
The incident was confirmed by the Director of Yahaya Bello’s Media Office, Ohiare Michael, in a statement titled, “Despite voluntary visit, EFCC officials surround Kogi Government Lodge, Abuja in an attempt to forcefully arrest former governor Yahaya Bello, fire gunshots.” Michael accused the EFCC of attempting a forceful arrest and described the operatives’ actions as unnecessary and politically motivated.
Earlier in the day, Yahaya Bello’s team and the EFCC had been engaged in a heated dispute regarding the ex-governor’s visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. According to Bello’s media office, the former governor had voluntarily gone to the EFCC office to clear his name after being declared wanted by the agency months earlier. However, Michael said that EFCC officials refused to attend to him, despite his willingness to cooperate.
Michael added that later that evening, EFCC operatives surrounded the Kogi Government Lodge in Asokoro, allegedly firing shots in an effort to arrest Bello. “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,” he said.
He further criticized the EFCC’s actions, stating, “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 Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they are out to arrest him.”
Meanwhile, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale denied that Bello was ever in the agency’s custody. “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 is incorrect,” Oyewale said. He reiterated that Bello remains wanted by the EFCC, with an existing arrest warrant still in place.
This development comes after the EFCC filed 19 charges against Bello in connection to the alleged money laundering case. Alongside Bello, his nephew Ali Bello and two other individuals are also facing charges for financial crimes totaling over N80 billion.
Despite the EFCC’s stance, Bello’s media office insists that the former governor voluntarily responded to the agency’s invitation. Michael stated that Bello went to the EFCC headquarters earlier in the day with his legal team and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. However, after a brief visit, the EFCC did not interrogate him and allowed him to leave.
Bello’s team has continued to assert the former governor’s innocence, with Michael maintaining that the ex-governor has nothing to hide. “The former governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear,” he said.
