News

EFCC Launches Manhunts For Yahaya Bello, Declares Him Wanted

Published

8 months ago

Apr 18, 2024.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted.

The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a circular made available to journalists on Thursday.

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.

File Image of Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello

“Anybody with information as to his whereabout should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station,” the notice read.

The EFCC described Yahaya Bello as a 48-year-old Ebiraman, who is a native of Okene Local Government of Kogi State.

Operatives of the anti-graft agency invaded Bello’s residence in Abuja on Wednesday, attempting to arrest him over an ongoing investigation into financial fraud.

EFCC Logo

However, his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, smuggled Yahaya Bellow out of his residence.

EFCC Threatens To Use Military To Arrest Yahaya Bello

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared that it would use the military to arrest the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, if he continued to ‘play games’.

The arrest order for the former governor of Kogi state issued on Wednesday, April 17, has prompted the anti-graft agency to consider involving the military in its execution following a failed attempt to apprehend him at his Abuja residence yesterday.

The lawyer representing the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), issued this threat on Thursday, April 18, during a hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Pinheiro accused Usman Ododo, Bello’s successor, of obstructing EFCC’s attempts to carry out the order on Wednesday.

Pinheiro said: “What happened yesterday was that a person with immunity (Ododo) came to whisk him (Bello) away to abort his arrest.

“We know that he is being kept in his successor’s house. Immunity is not attached to a home but to a person.

“We can invite the military to invade the building where he is being kept to execute the order of this court. What is edifying for him is to come to court and not to continue to play games.”

“We want to come next week so that we can produce him. We know what to do. He cannot stand in the way of the Constitution.

“A former president of the United States was indicted, he is attending court. He did not play pranks by filing frivolous cases.

“If he believes he is innocent, he should come before the court and defend it here,” The Nation quoted Pinheiro saying.

Click To Watch Our Video Of The Week