The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives on Wednesday night laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, to arrest the ex-Governor Yahaya Bello.
The drama surrounding the ex-governor’s case with the EFCC continued on Wednesday morning when the Director of his Media Team, Ohiare Michael, said in a statement he had honoured the commission’s invitation months after he was declared wanted for alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
Bello’s decision to appear before the anti-graft agency came after consultations with his family, legal team, and political associates.
In another statement issued a few hours later, the director said the ex-governor left the commission’s office in Abuja unquestioned.
The statement read: “The EFCC did not interrogate him. He was told that he could leave by officials of the commission.
“We don’t know what this means yet.
“He was accompanied to the commission’s office by Gov. Usman Ododo.”
However, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement insisted that Bello remains a wanted person for alleged corruption.
He declared that the former governor was not in EFCC custody contrary to the claim by his supporters.
“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, is 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,” Oyewale stated.
The director of the ex-governor’s media team confirmed the EFCC invasion of the Kogi Government in a fresh statement on Wednesday night.
He alleged that the EFCC officers shot sporadically in the air in the bid to arrest the former governor.
The statement read: “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.”
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