- ‘’Yahaya Bello Is Not Above The Law’’, EFCC Tells Ododo
- Ex-Governor Arraigned today..,
By Abiola Olawale
A massive drama occurred in Abuja on Wednesday as Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State outwitted the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes and Commission (EFCC) to help his predecessor, former governor Yahaya Bello to escape arrest.
The New Diplomat reports that the operatives of the EFCC had laid siege on the residence of Bello located in Abuja for a long while . The siege which lasted for over 12 hours was in an attempt to arrest the former governor over an alleged corruption case pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, during the siege, Ododo paid a visit to Bello. Shortly after entering Bello’s palatial home on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, the governor drove out with his predecessor.
The development escalated tension as the operatives of the EFCC reportedly shut sporadically into the air. However, normalcy was restored after the security operatives took turns to leave the area that they had cordoned off for hours.
Speaking on the development, the EFCC said it initiated moves to effect the arrest of Bello having secured a warrant from a Federal High Court
EFCC in a statement issued at the late hours of Wednesday described Ododo’s act as unfortunate, saying it will no longer tolerate the obstruction of its operations.
The statement reads: “The Commission’s attempt to execute the warrant of arrest lawfully obtained against Bello met stiff resistance yesterday.
“The security cordon around the former governor’s residence in Abuja was breached by the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, who ensured that the suspect was spirited away in his official vehicle. As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment today
“It is needful to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible.”
It would be recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, granted the EFCC permission to arrest the former governor in preparation for his arraignment on Thursday.
The warrant was granted by a ruling from the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday afternoon.
This comes after a Kogi State High Court in a conflicting ruling restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting the ex-governor.
The New Diplomat reports that the presiding judge, Justice I. A Jami in his ruling over suit no HCL/68/M/2020 restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining, and prosecuting the applicant except as authorized by the Court.
The ruling followed the lawsuit brought by the former Governor seeking to enforce his fundamental rights.
It would be recalled that the EFCC had earlier dragged the former governor, his nephew Ali, one Dauda Sulaiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in an amended charge in March 2024 over an alleged N84bn money laundering.
In the amended charges, the EFCC alleged that the suspects diverted about N84 billion belonging to the Kogi state government.
Meanwhile, EFCC has revealed that Bello will be arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, today.
He will be arraigned alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19- count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246, 470, 088.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
Count one of the charges reads: That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu( Still at large), sometime, in February 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80, 246,470, 088.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended”.
Count 17 of the charges read: “That you Yahaya Bello between 26th July 2021 to 6th April 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court aided E-Traders International Limited to conceal the aggregate sum of N3, 081, 804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty-One Million Eight Hundred and Four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira) in account number 1451458080 domiciled in Access BankPlc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
Count 18 of the charges reads: “That you Yahaya Adoza Bello sometime in November 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly procured E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330.00 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars) to account number 4266644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act”.
