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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Mr Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State governor wanted.
The anti-graft agency in a public notice on Thursday said Bello is wanted for alleged offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 billion.
It called on Nigerians with useful information as to his whereabout to report immediately to the Commission or the nearest Police Station.
The public notice reads, “The public is hereby notified that YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
“Bello, 48-year old Ebiraman, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its lbadan, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices or through these numbers 09-9044751-3, 08093322644, 08183322644, 07026350721-3, 0706350724-5; its e-mail address: info@efccnigeria.org or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies”.
Meanwhile, the federal government had earlier called on the embattled former governor to follow the path of decency and surrender himself for investigation.
The call was made by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN on Thursday.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had granted the anti-graft agency permission to arrest Yahaya Bello ahead of his arraignment on Thursday. The attempt to arrest the ex-governor led to the laying of siege at his Abuja residence earlier today.
Operatives of the commission barricaded the entrance to the residence of the former governor in Wuse zone 4 of the nation’s capital. But the embattled former governor was reportedly smuggled out from his home when his predecessor, governor Ahmed Ododo paid him a solidarity visit during the face-off on Wednesday.
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But reacting to the situation, the AGF, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, said the EFCC is empowered by law to invite any Nigerian for interrogation.
The AGF described the action of the incumbent governor of the State, Ahmed Ododo, who used his immunity to scuttle Bello’s arrest on Wednesday as ‘disquieting’, adding that embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put Nigeria in bad light before the rest of the world is not the way to go.
Part of the statement reads, “The bizarre drama confronting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the course of its efforts to perform its statutory duty has come to my notice (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) as a matter of very grave concern.
“It is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigation into any matter regardless of status. Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting. A flight
from the law does not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbates it.
“I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC and indeed any other agency to order when there is indication of any transgression of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies but I also tenaciously hold the view that institutions of State should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently. Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world”
