Former spokesman for the Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Daniel Bwala, has criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for declaring former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello wanted, labeling the action as unnecessary.
In a statement issued through his official X handle on Friday, Bwala questioned the EFCC’s approach, pointing out that the agency had ample means to detain Bello without issuing a public wanted notice.
He highlighted inconsistencies in the EFCC’s handling of similar cases, particularly comparing it to the arrest of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.
Bwala stated, “Unless EFCC and Yahaya Bello are both doing simulation for a movie about the agency and former governors, the press statement captioned ‘wanted’ is not necessary. You were at his residence to effect arrest- you failed to apply ACJA or better still what you did to Okorocha at his residence. You knew who came and whisked him away- you allowed that. Both him and the incumbent governor have security detail from police and SSS who must report activities including the whereabouts of their VIPs to their commands- meaning his whereabouts is not hidden. You knew Police and SSS have surveillance instruments for geo-tracking and geo-locating- yet you failed to approach.”
The EFCC had earlier announced that Bello was wanted in connection with an alleged N80.2 billion money laundering case. The agency also mentioned to the Federal High Court in Abuja that it might seek assistance from the Nigerian Army to secure Bello’s arrest following their failed attempt during a raid on his Abuja residence earlier in the week.
The intervention from Bello’s successor, Governor Usman Ododo, reportedly allowed the former governor to avoid arrest. Since then, his exact location has remained unclear, prompting the EFCC’s decision to declare him wanted.