Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has stirred controversy following his visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja. The event, which has sparked conflicting reports, comes as Bello faces serious allegations of money laundering involving a staggering N80.2 billion.
The controversy began when the former governor’s media team claimed that Bello voluntarily visited the EFCC to honor an invitation from the anti-graft agency.
According to a statement by Ohiare Michael, Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, Bello’s decision to visit the EFCC was made after consulting with his legal team, family, and political allies. The statement emphasized that Bello’s visit was aimed at clearing his name of the serious allegations against him.
Michael stated, “Former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, today honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team, and political allies.”
According to Michael, Bello’s legal team has consistently represented him in court, and the former governor remains committed to ensuring that his rights are upheld.
He said, “Former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, today honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team, and political allies.
“The former governor, who has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had all the while only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process.”
Michael added, “The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. It is important for the former governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name, as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
“The former governor firmly believes in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development and supports the fight against corruption in the country.
“It is on record that he was the first governor of Kogi State to implement an anti-corruption mechanism to curb graft and ensure that the state’s resources benefit its people.
“He was accompanied to the EFCC headquarters by high-profile Nigerians. We hope that the commission will act professionally and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Details of his engagement with the operatives of the anti-graft agency will be disclosed later.”
Despite these claims, the EFCC quickly issued a rebuttal, denying that Bello was in their custody. EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated that media reports claiming the former governor was being held by the commission were false. Oyewale clarified that Bello remains a wanted person and that a warrant for his arrest is still active.
“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.”
Minutes after the anti-graft agency’s rebuttal, the Bello Media Office maintained that Bello was at the EFCC headquarters and that the commission refused to interrogate the ex-governor.
“Earlier today, we reported the voluntary visit of former Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office to honour the commission’s invitation.
“In the statement, we reiterated the former governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, and stressed that all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
“The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him, as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office.
“He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“Recall that the case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. The former governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name, as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear,” Michael said in another statement.
