The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has been hiding in the state’s government house to evade arrest. This was disclosed by the EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show.
Uwajaren stated that current Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo eventually presented Bello to the EFCC, likely after realizing that his actions could implicate him as an accomplice to the alleged crimes.
Uwajaren explained, “Before Yahaya Bello arrived at the car park of the EFCC, he had already sent media information across all platforms that he had presented himself before the EFCC and was detained; and that was not true. At the time that information got across, Yahaya Bello was not in the premises of the EFCC and he had not arrived there. That, for us, was an indication that he had a game plan and it was not merely a case of submitting himself to the commission.”
He added that Governor Ododo likely realized he was being drawn into Bello’s avoidance tactics, noting that when the EFCC first attempted to arrest the former governor, it was Governor Ododo who intervened and shielded him in Lokoja’s Government House.
The EFCC is prosecuting Bello over allegations of misappropriation and money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion during his time as governor. Despite several attempts to arrest him, Bello had managed to evade the agency, with Ododo reportedly obstructing the EFCC’s earlier efforts to apprehend him from his Abuja residence.
Last week, Yahaya Bello voluntarily appeared at the EFCC office, accompanied by Governor Ododo, and was questioned before being released.
