In a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page on Thursday, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted for offences relating to economic and financial crimes.
The notice reads: “The public is hereby notified that Yahaya Adoza Bello (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88
“Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State.
“His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.”
The notice asked anybody with useful information about the former governor’s whereabouts to contact any of the commission’s offices across the country.
The anti-graft commission had earlier stated that it would, on Thursday, arraign the former governor before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
This was after the EFCC was granted a warrant of arrest by the Federal High Court in Abuja to apprehend the former governor, and the commission had thought that would be possible on Wednesday.
But, at Bello’s Abuja residence, on Wednesday, a group of armed men, identified as “Special Forces,” along with officers from the Nigeria Police Force, intervened to prevent the EFCC operatives from apprehending him.
It is also believed that the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo’s team escorted Bello out of the location in the governor’s vehicle.
The agency’s team of lawyers, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, during the proceedings on Thursday, said that EFCC operatives were prepared to carry out the arrest warrant for the former governor, even if it requires the use of 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.
“The law allows to break down walls to arrest an evading defendant. Section 284 says all persons are to obey the service of charge,” Pinheiro stated.