CSO tackles Ododo for ‘obstructing’ arrest of Yahaya Bello

The Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCP), a civil society organisation, has criticised Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, for purportedly shielding Yahaya Bello from arrest.

BACKGROUND

On April 18, 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Bello wanted over alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation to the tune of N80.2 billion.

The commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful.

The anti-graft agency also filed a 19-count charge against Bello over alleged money laundering.

However, the arraignment has been stalled on several occasions due to the absence of the former governor.

On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.

Sources had told TheCable that Bello has been hiding in plain sight — holed up in the “protective custody” of the Kogi state government — since he was declared wanted by the EFCC.

On September 18, Bello’s media office said the ex-governor had honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation in the company of Ododo — who has immunity.

The EFCC immediately denied that Bello was in its custody, restating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was still a wanted man.

However, Bello’s media office responded by saying the politician was not interrogated when he visited the EFCC office and was turned back.

The media office of the former governor also alleged that operatives of the EFCC laid siege to the Kogi government lodge in Abuja in a bid to forcefully arrest Bello.

‘REPUGNANT AND DANGEROUS’

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Akinloye Oyeniyi, executive director of the group, said the obstructive actions and antics of Ododo are “repugnant and dangerous to justice in Nigeria”.

He said the group has written to the governors’ forum and the presidency on the issue.

“We want the governor to be aware that such action is viewed as repugnant and unbecoming of a state governor who swore to uphold the constitution of the federal republic and also pledge his allegiance to the federal republic of Nigeria,” he said.

“The effrontery and audacity against the constitution of Nigeria being displayed has never happened in the history of Nigeria and was hitherto unthought of.

“We have formally written to the Nigeria Governors Forum, the Progressives Governors Forum and the Presidency to weigh-in and have this matter resolved on the side of the Nigerian people.

“We hope that advisers of governor Ododo, just like we are now doing, will be able to tell him that what he has done so far is an obstruction of the EFCC in the performance of its statutory duties, with legal consequences now or in the future.”

The group also condemned the lack of cooperation among security agencies on the saga. 

“The nation is now viewed as a country where certain people of high political status are above the laws of the land,” he said.

“If we may ask, where is the touted synergy among the security apparatus of the nation state? What happened to the pledge by each and every member of the security and law enforcement agencies to uphold the laws of the land, regardless of whose ox is gored, and without fear or favour?

“It is a shame of the nation that the EFCC continues to bemoan lack of cooperation in its efforts to arrest the former governor, who is being shielded by his kinsman and successor in office, His Excellency, Alhaji Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi state.

“What is expected in a virile nation would have been that security agents around governor Ododo would have been instructed by their respective commands to help both Yahaya Bello and the EFCC or the court to access justice, especially when a court of the land had issued a valid and subsisting warrant of arrest on the former governor.

“Is it not a huge joke that the court issued a bench warrant on Yahaya Bello and the EFCC, a statutory federal agency, is still seeking his arrest while he is being protected by federal security agents provided for governor Usman Ododo by the federal government?”