Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has once again evaded arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the alleged help of his successor, Governor Usman Ododo.
This is the second time Ododo has assisted Bello in avoiding arrest, with the first incident occurring in April.
The EFCC had laid siege to the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja in an attempt to apprehend Bello, who is wanted for allegedly laundering N80.2 billion.
Despite the operation, Ododo allegedly leveraged his immunity as a sitting governor to help Bello avoid arrest.
After a visit by Bello and Ododo to the EFCC headquarters on Wednesday, the commission denied having Bello in custody. EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale stated that Bello was not detained, contrary to claims by Bello’s media team that he had visited the agency.
EFCC officials revealed that Ododo’s actions prevented them from arresting Bello, citing his governorship immunity as the reason they couldn’t take further action.
The PUNCH reported that an official said, “Yahaya Bello has not been arrested. The Kogi State governor prevented operatives from doing their work yesterday just like he did the other time. He took him away and our men could not do anything because of the immunity he (Ododo) is enjoying.”
Bello is facing 19 counts bordering on money laundering, alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu.
The charges include conspiring to convert N80.2 billion, which is reasonably believed to be part of the proceeds of unlawful activity.
The EFCC had obtained a warrant of arrest against Bello in April but was met with resistance from Ododo, who ensured Bello was spirited away in his official vehicle.
The commission has emphasized that Bello is not above the law and will be brought to justice as soon as possible.
