On Wednesday, September 20, 2024, reports emerged that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello avoided arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a raid at the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja. The EFCC has been investigating Bello over allegations of involvement in an N80.2 billion fraud case.
According to sources, Bello was assisted by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, in evading the arrest. The EFCC operatives, who were at the government lodge in Abuja to apprehend Bello, could not proceed with their operation due to Governor Ododo’s interference. As a sitting governor, Ododo enjoys immunity, which apparently gave him the power to shield Bello from arrest.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. A similar situation was reported in April, where Governor Ododo allegedly helped Bello escape from EFCC operatives during another raid in Abuja. On both occasions, it appears that Ododo’s governorship status and immunity played a critical role in preventing the EFCC from arresting the former governor.
Following the failed attempt to detain Bello, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that Bello had not been taken into custody. Despite earlier claims from Bello’s media team suggesting that he had visited the EFCC office, the anti-corruption agency clarified that no arrest was made.
An EFCC operative familiar with the situation expressed frustration, stating, “Yahaya Bello has not been arrested. The Kogi State governor prevented operatives from doing their work yesterday just like he did the other time. He took him away and our men could not do anything because of the immunity he (Ododo) is enjoying.”
The EFCC has continued its efforts to investigate the alleged N80.2 billion fraud, but with the immunity protecting Governor Ododo, the case against Bello faces significant hurdles.
