Suspense Over Yahaya Bello As EFCC Asks Him To Go After Visit

A fresh controversy emerges on the spat between former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the agency on Wednesday claimed ignorance on his whereabouts despite his highly publicised visit to the commission’s headquarters…

While the Yahaya Bello Media Team claimed that the ex-governor voluntarily appeared at the agency’s headquarters, the EFCC has denied knowledge on his whereabouts insisting that he remains a wanted man.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Ohiare Michael, Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, said that the former governor reportedly honored an invitation from the EFCC following consultations with his legal counsel and political associates. According to Michael, Bello decided to present himself to the commission to clear his name in the ongoing corruption case.

“His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi State, today honored the EFCC’s invitation after due consultations with his family, legal team, and political allies,” the statement read. Michael emphasized that Bello’s decision was driven by his respect for the rule of law and his desire to ensure due process was followed.

He added that Bello had always been represented in court by his legal team and had nothing to hide. “It is important for the former governor to honor the EFCC’s invitation to clear his name, as he has nothing to fear,” Michael explained.

Bello’s media team also highlighted his track record in fighting corruption during his tenure as governor. They noted that he was the first governor of Kogi State to implement anti-corruption measures aimed at safeguarding the state’s resources for the benefit of the people.

However, in a surprising twist, the EFCC denied knowledge on the whereabouts of the former governor insisting that he remains a wanted man.

The commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated, “Reports that Yahaya Bello is in EFCC custody are false. He remains a wanted person with a subsisting arrest warrant.” The EFCC had previously declared Bello wanted over alleged money laundering charges totalling ₦80.2 billion.

Shortly after the EFCC’s rebuttal, Bello’s media team doubled down on their claim, insisting that he had visited the commission’s headquarters but was not interrogated. They revealed that Bello, accompanied by the current Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, left the premises after EFCC officials reportedly told him he could leave.

“Earlier today, we reported that Yahaya Bello voluntarily visited the EFCC office to honor their invitation. However, he was not interrogated and was told he could leave. We do not know the reasons for this, but we will continue to follow the matter closely,” Michael added in a subsequent statement.

GWG.ng reports that the EFCC has filed 19 charges against Bello, alongside his nephew Ali Bello, and other individuals for alleged money laundering offenses amounting to over ₦80 billion. Despite several attempts to arrest and arraign him, Bello has remained elusive, prompting the EFCC to declare him wanted.

As the saga continues, it remains unclear what the next steps will be in this high-profile case, with both sides presenting conflicting accounts of the situation.
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