Reports suggest that the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, has discreetly moved the beleaguered former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, from his home in Abuja to evade an imminent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ododo’s unexpected arrival at Bello’s residence came in the wake of a robust security crackdown conducted by EFCC operatives and other law enforcement agencies aiming to apprehend the ex-governor.
A group of armed individuals donning black attire bearing the label “Special Forces,” believed to be under the Nigeria Police Force, were positioned to obstruct the EFCC officials from accessing Yahaya Bello’s residence on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Despite the EFCC’s attempt to raid Bello’s abode around 9:30 am on Wednesday morning, they were met with resistance from the police officers and other armed guards stationed at the premises.
Furthermore, Governor Usman Ododo made an unannounced visit to the embattled ex-governor amidst the heightened security presence at his Abuja residence.
Joined by a multitude of security personnel and vocal youth supporters protesting against the siege on the former governor’s home, Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence around 2:30 pm on Wednesday.
Upon our correspondent’s inspection of the site later that afternoon, a formidable array of armed EFCC personnel, police officers, operatives from the Department of State Security, members of the Counter Terrorism Unit, and Yahaya Bello’s private security detail were noticed.
Visual evidence obtained by our correspondent displayed the tense standoff at the ex-governor’s residence on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja on Wednesday.
As of the latest update, our correspondent reported difficulty in independently verifying the rationale behind the siege on Bello’s home, as the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, remained unresponsive to inquiries regarding the unfolding events.
Prior to this incident, the EFCC had filed charges against Yahaya Bello, his nephew Ali, along with Dauda Sulaiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja in March 2024, concerning an alleged N84 billion money laundering scheme.