…Operatives storm ex-gov’s Abuja home
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday was granted a warrant by a Federal High Court in Abuja to apprehend Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State.
The warrant was issued following an ex-parte motion filed by the EFCC.
In his ruling on the Motion, Justice Emeka Nwite also directed that the former governor be produced before him today, Thursday, for arraignment.
This is coming as the EFCC operatives yesterday stormed the Abuja home of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, located in Wuse Zone-4, Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).
Photographs, which was widely circulated on social media yesterday, showed some armed EFCC personnel laying siege to the ex-governor’s home on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone-4, in the FCT.
The EFCC siege is coming days after the former governor held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, at the State House.
As of press time, the reason behind the seige could not be independently confirmed, as the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, did not respond to inquiries concerning the development.
Recall that the EFCC had earlier dragged Yahaya Bello, his nephew, Ali; one Dauda Sulaiman, and AbdulSalam Hudu before Justice James Omotosho, of the Federal High Court, Abuja in March 2024, in an amended charge over an alleged N84bn money laundering.
Reacting to the development, the ex-governor’s media office, in an issued statement, condemned the operatives’ actions, while urging President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC.
According to the statement, the presence of the operatives in Bello’s residence negated the order of injunction granted on February 9, 2024, by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Yahaya Bello v. EFCC, restraining the Commission, either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting him, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.
The ex-governor’s media office further alleged that the anti-graft agency was plotting to embarrass and harass him through spurious allegations, especially the latest one dating back to September 2015, long before he assumed office.
The anti-graft agency, in the 17-count amended charge, accused Yahaya Bello of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N84,062,406,089.88. The EFCC had claimed, in the amended charge, that the former governor was at large.
Meanwhile, amidst heavy security crackdown on Bello’s home yesterday, the incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, visited the embattled former governor at the ex-governor’s Abuja home.
Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence at about 2:30 pm yesterday, alongside several security operatives and youth supporters protesting against the siege to the former governor’s home.
