By Abiola Olawale
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted reports making rounds that its operatives arrested former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The anti-graft agency clarified that the former governor is not in its custody.
In a statement on Wednesday, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale also declared that Bello remains wanted “for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges”.
The statement reads in part: “Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
This comes after the media office of Bello had said the former governor honoured the invitation of the EFCC.
A statement by the Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, on Wednesday, said the former governor honoured EFCC invitation “after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies”.
It would be recalled that the EFCC had declared Bello wanted in connection with an alleged case of money laundering to the tune of N80.2bn. The EFCC declared Bello wanted after several failed attempts to arrest him in Abuja.
The anti-graft agency had accused Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large) of conspiring in February 2016 to convert N80,246,470,088.88, which was allegedly obtained through a criminal breach of trust, violating Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
