There was mild drama over the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, visiting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office in Abuja.
While Yahaya Bello disclosed that he honoured the EFCC invitation and was asked to go, the commission said Bello didn’t appear.
Bello left the EFCC headquarters amid rumours that he was arrested at midnight by operatives of the anti-graft agency in Lokoja.
LEADERSHIP had earlier reported that the former Governor honoured the invitation of the anti-corruption commission in response to an invitation over an alleged fraud.
A report in some sections of the Media said that the EFCC’s operational staff arrested former Governor Bello despite the Governor’s honoured invitation to the anti-graft agency.
Confirming his release, the director of Yahaya Bello Media office, Michael Ohiare, explained in a statement that the EFCC did not interrogate him, however, as officials told him he could leave.
He said, “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”.
Meanwhile, a statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said, “Media reports today that a former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello, is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, are incorrect. The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
Earlier, Bello’s media team said the former governor honoured the EFCC invitation on Wednesday and was accompanied to the EFCC headquarters by high-profile Nigerians.
Recall that a statement by the Yahaya Bello Media Office director, Ohiare Michael, said Bello’s decision to honour the invitation was made after due consultations with his family, legal team, and political allies.
The statement reads: “The former governor, who has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had, all the while, only sought to enforce his fundamental rights to ensure due process.
“The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. The former governor needs to honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name, as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
“The former governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development and supports the fight against corruption in the country.”
Michael further noted that “it is on record that he was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the State work for the people of the state.
“We hope that the Commission will be as professional as necessary and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, the media office of the former governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has alleged that EFCC operatives on Wednesday night, laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to arrest the ex-governor.
The team’s media director, Ohiare Michael, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, alleged that the anti-graft officers shot sporadically in the air in the bid to carry out their aim.
The statement reads: “It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically.
“It was reported earlier that the former governor went to the EFCC Office voluntarily earlier today but the commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount a gestapo-like attack on the Kogi State Government facility in Asokoro.
“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him.
“Tonight’s attack was needless as the former Governor made himself available to the EFCC in their office for interrogation.
“The EFCC had no question to ask Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they are out to arrest him.
“This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they were fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption.
“This action reflects much more than the fight against corruption. We will keep Nigerians posted.”