Trouble seems not to have abated for ex-Kogi State governir, Yahaya Bello as the federal government in strong terms condemned his rescue effort by the Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo even as the Economic and Financial Crimes Comission has declared him wanted, threatening to enlist the military to effect his arrest.
The EFCC declared the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted for offences relating to economic and financial crimes.
This was according to a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page on Thursday.
“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2bn.
“Anybody with information as to his whereabout should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station,” the notice read.
While reacting to the development, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, called on the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to follow the path of decency and submit himself for probe.
Bello is being wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corrupt practices while in office as governor of Kogi State.
In the last 24 hours, there have been dramas and hide and seek game between both parties over the move to arrest the former governor for arraignment today, Thursday.
According to the AGF, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, EFCC is empowered by law to invite any Nigerian for interrogation.
He also described the action of the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, who used his immunity to prevent Bello’s arrest on Wednesday as ‘disquieting’, adding that embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put Nigeria in bad light before the rest of the world is not the way to go.
According to him, he stands for the rule of law and will ensure no right of any Nigerian is trampled upon.
The AGF said in the terse statement: “The bizarre drama confronting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the course of its efforts to perform its statutory duty has come to my notice (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) as a matter of very grave concern.
“It is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigation into any matter regardless of status. Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting. A flight
from the law does not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbates it.
“I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC and indeed any other agency to order when there is indication of any transgression of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies but I also tenaciously hold the view that institutions of State should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently. Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world.”
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to use the military to smoke the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, out of hiding place.
The commission invaded the Abuja residence of Bello on Wednesday to arrest him but couldn’t do owing to some external forces.
According to reports, the former governor may have been hiding in the Kogi State Government House under the immunity of Governor Ahmed Ododo, his successor, who is covered with Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The EFCC has been hunting for Bello, to arrest him over allegation of financial mismanagement while in office as governor.
Earlier, the EFCC was granted a warrant of arrest by a Federal High Court in Abuja to apprehend the embattled former governor.
The warrant was issued following an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC.
Bello will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Abdulsalam Hudu on 19 counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,088.88.
Bello was supposed to be arraigned in court this Thursday but the planned arraignment could not take place due to his absence.
During the proceedings on Thursday, Counsel to EFCC, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the commission will drag Bello before the court to face his trial, even, if it means engaging the military to get him.
He said, “We may have to invite the military to move Yahaya Bello out of where he is hiding.
“We may have to engage the military to force him out because immunity does not cover him where he is hiding.
“No one is above the law. Immunity covers only the governor and not everyone around him.”
