By Abiola Olawale
The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello who has been on the run from the long arm of the law, has finally surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This was revealed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael.
Michael, in the statement, explained that Bello gave up his decision to flee from the law and surrender himself by honouring the invitation of the EFCC to explain his own side of the story on the allegations of corruption and mismanagement levelled against him.
The statement reads in part: “The former Governor, who has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had, all the while, only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process.
“The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. It is important for the former Governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
“The former Governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development and supports the fight against corruption in the country.”
The New Diplomat reports that this is coming after several attempts by the EFCC to arraign the former governor on an alleged N80.2bn fraud case.
It would be recalled also 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.
