The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi State, wanted for economic and financial crimes.
In a notice posted on its official Facebook page on Thursday, the EFCC announced that it is seeking Bello in connection with allegations of money laundering totaling N80,246,470,089.88.
The notice included a photo of the former governor and described him as a 48-year-old Ebira man from Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
The EFCC urged anyone with information on Bello’s whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide.
The commission had earlier planned to arraign Bello on Thursday before a Federal High Court in Abuja. This followed the court’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Bello.
During the proceedings, the EFCC’s legal team, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, stated that the agency was ready to execute the arrest warrant, even if it meant using force.
“We have to arraign him in court even if we have to use the military. Immunity is only attached to a person and not the building,” Pinheiro said.
At Bello’s Abuja residence on Wednesday, a group of armed men identified as “Special Forces,” along with Nigeria Police officers, intervened to prevent EFCC operatives from arresting him.
Reports indicate that Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo intervened to prevent the arrest of the former governor. Ododo’s team escorted Bello from the scene in the governor’s vehicle.
Bello, along with three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, is set to be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on 19 counts related to money laundering worth N80,246,470,088.88.
