I’ll resign if Yahaya Bello escapes prosecution — EFCC chairman

Mr Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has threatened to resign from his position if the embattled former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello is not prosecuted.

He vowed that all those who obstructed the arrest of Yahaya Bello would be brought to book.

The anti-corruption czar disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

Yahaya Bello has been evading arrest after the attempt to take him into custody failed.

Making his stance known, the EFCC chairman swore to follow the prosecution of Bello to the logical conclusion.

Olukoyede also told newsmen that the EFCC has frozen over 300 accounts linked to illicit foreign exchange (FX) trading.

He said, “We got an order to freeze those accounts. Imagine what would have happened if we didn’t seize those accounts.”

Also, he explained that Nigerian banks lost over N8 billion to internet fraud in 2022.

Olukoyede said more than 71 per cent of companies operating in Nigeria were victims of cybercrime in 2022, adding that the anti-graft agency’s fight against internet fraud is about saving the nation’s future.

He further disclosed that the commission has set up a cybercrime research centre where convicted internet fraudsters, known as Yahoo Yahoo boys, will be trained to channel their knowledge to positive aspects of the society.

NewsBand reported on Thursday last week that the EFCC declared Mr Yahaya Bello wanted.

The anti-graft agency in a public notice 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”.

Similarly, the federal government had called on Yahaya Bello 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 commission permission to arrest Mr Bello ahead of his arraignment on Thursday.

The attempt to arrest the ex-governor led to the laying of siege at his Abuja residence.

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.

But reacting to the situation, the AGF, in a statement he personally signed, 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”