An attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello at his residence in Abuja was foiled by the current Governor Usman Ododo and the police.
The EFCC operatives arrived at Yahaya Bello’s residence at 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, preventing any movements in or out of the premises.
The armed policemen, identified as ‘Special Forces, resisted the EFCC’s attempt to enter the residence.
Various security forces, including the DSS and Counter Terrorism Unit, were present at the scene along with the EFCC operatives and Yahaya Bello’s private security team.
Despite the standoff, the EFCC was unable to enter the house due to the strong resistance from the policemen and armed guards.
Governor Ododo later arrived at the residence with a convoy of security personnel and supporters. He entered the residence and departed with Bello in his car.
Shortly after their departure, the EFCC operatives withdrew from the scene while other security agents left as well.
An anonymous source confirmed that Yahaya Bello had left with Governor Ododo, stating that the EFCC operatives could not stop them.
The EFCC has been in a conflict with the former governor over corruption allegations, leading to the arrest of Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, on charges totaling N84 billion.
The Kogi State government dismissed the charges as baseless, emphasizing that there were no missing funds.
A statement from the EFCC spokesperson warned against obstructing their operations.
Yahaya Bello criticized the EFCC’s action, calling it illegal and urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
In a separate court ruling, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an arrest warrant for Bello, while a Kogi State High Court restrained EFCC from detaining him.
The case continues as the EFCC pursues charges against Bello for alleged money laundering and misappropriation of funds.