Armed individuals, identified as officers of the Nigeria Police Force and a group labeled as “Special Forces”, have obstructed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives from apprehending the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, at his residence in Abuja.
At approximately 9:30 am on Wednesday, EFCC personnel made an attempt to enter Bello’s residence on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
However, they were blocked by policemen and other armed guards preventing them from accessing the ex-governor’s premises.
Earlier in the day, Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, paid a visit to Bello amidst a heavy security presence at his Abuja home.
Ododo, accompanied by security personnel and supporting youth demonstrators protesting the siege on the ex-governor’s home, arrived at Bello’s residence around 2:30 pm on Wednesday.
Upon inspection of the premises later in the afternoon, our correspondent noted the heavy presence of EFCC operatives, police officers, Department of State Security agents, Counter Terrorism Unit members, and Bello’s private security team.
Photographic evidence obtained on Wednesday revealed armed EFCC personnel surrounding the ex-governor’s residence on Benghazi Street in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
As of the latest update, the reason for the siege on Bello’s home remains unconfirmed as EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale has not responded to inquiries on the matter.
Nevertheless, in March 2024, EFCC officially charged Yahaya Bello, his nephew Ali, Dauda Sulaiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for an alleged N84 billion money laundering offense.
Responding to the situation, Bello’s media office issued a statement denouncing the operatives’ actions and calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and reprimand EFCC.
The statement highlighted that the presence of operatives at Bello’s residence violated a court injunction from the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, retraining EFCC from harassing, arresting, detaining or prosecuting him until the determination of the fundamental rights enforcement action.
According to the statement, EFCC received the order on February 12, 2024, and filed an appeal challenging the injunction, which was scheduled for hearing on April 22, 2024.
The media office criticized EFCC for disregarding the court order and accused the agency of attempting to tarnish Bello’s reputation with baseless allegations, including those predating his tenure.
In the amended charge consisting of 17 counts, EFCC accused Bello of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds totaling N84,062,406,089.88.
The former governor, reportedly wanted by the EFCC, had his nephew, Ali Bello, arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja for a separate money laundering case involving N10 billion linked to the Kogi State Government.
Conversely, the state government dismissed the charges as absurd and implausible, asserting that Bello did not have access to state funds during the specified period.
In an official statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the state government condemned EFCC’s actions, claiming that the agency had individuals with conflicting motives undermining the government’s anti-corruption efforts.