The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
It was gathered that Bello was arrested by the EFCC on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
It was gathered that Bello went to the EFCC office with his lawyers on Tuesday morning, following the Supreme Court judgement which dismissed states’ case on the constitutionality of the anti-graft agency.
The former governor’s arrest was confirmed by the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale.
Oyewale said Bello, who was declared wanted by the commission, never submitted himself but got arrested by the operatives of the agency.
He said: “We arrested him (Yahaya Bello) at 12:54 p.m. He did not surrender himself to the commission; three of his lawyers are here with him.
“Following his arrest, he is having a session with investigators of the commission.
“He is being detained in our custody and he is going to be arraigned in court accordingly.”
The EFCC had charged Bello, who had severally evaded the commission’s arrest, with alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of N80.2 billion.
The EFCC operatives had in the past laid siege at the Kogi Government Lodge in the Asokoro area of Abuja in an attempt to arrest the former governor.
Bello, alongside his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, also made an appearance at the EFCC office in Abuja but the former governor was not arrested by the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC later said Bello remained wanted by the commission.
It added: “The incident of Wednesday, September 18, 2024, regarding the orchestrated antics of Yahaya Bello to surrender himself to the EFCC, having denied being invited by the Commission and operating underground as a fugitive for several months, expectedly raised concerns and curiosity of many Nigerians who had been waiting frantically for his arrest and trial.
“Yahaya Bello’s matter cannot define the success or failure of the works of the EFCC, as the scorecard of the Commission is remarkable and undeniably impressive.
“The EFCC is not unaware of the fact that corruption fights back. Bello must have his day in court, no matter the recourse to blackmail, appeal to emotive public sympathy or acts of brigandage.”
The EFCC had since filed a money laundering charge against Bello before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
