Ododo, left, accompanying his predecessor, Bello, to the EFCC on Wednesday morning
BY Ayodele Oluwafemi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the recent visit by Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state was an “invitation to anarchy”.
On September 18, Bello arrived the headquarters of the EFCC alongside Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi state.
But the anti-graft agency said Bello was not in its custody, adding that the former governor remains wanted for alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation to the tune of N80.2 billion.
Sources say EFCC operatives turned back Bello and Ododo at the agency’s car park.
On September 19, Bello’s media office alleged that EFCC operatives laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja, in a bid to forcefully arrest the former governor hours after his visit.
At the court on Wednesday, Kemi Pinheiro, the lead prosecution counsel of the EFCC, said Bello’s appearance at the EFCC car park was “out of place”.
Pinhero said Bello was holding the hands of Ododo, the governor who has immunity, at the EFCC premises.
He said the EFCC had written to Bello’s lawyers that the former governor should appear in court and that the arraignment will not take place in the agency’s office.
Pinhero asked Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, to exercise his powers and show to Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel of Bello, that the court is not a “vaudeville for entertainment but for serious business”.
“There is nowhere my Lordship or the Court of Appeal ordered that Yahaya Bello present himself at the EFCC car park, but rather to appear before my Lordship for arraignment,” the EFCC counsel said.
“What is even more worrisome and disconcerting is that the defendant went to the EFCC car park holding the hands of a person with immunity who came with all the full security of his office.
“The implication, my Lord, is if there was an attempt to get him from the person of immunity, there would be an invitation to anarchy.
“The invitation by the EFCC later in the day for Yahaya Bello to come alone, not with a person with immunity, security persons and other people was resisted again on their own admission.”
On his part, counsel to Bello begged the court not to charge the defence team for contempt and grant the prayers in their application.
“Our application is filed on the 18th of July 2024, it is supported by an 11- paragraph affidavit deposed to by the applicant Mr. Adeola Adedipe. That affidavit has an exhibit marked A, and in compliance with my Lord is a written address,” he said.
“We are urging my Lord to exercise his discretion, we are on bended knees begging you to exercise your discretion and grant the prayers that are contained in the affidavit.”
After listening to the arguments, Nwite, the presiding judge, said it is “quite unfortunate” that the arraignment, which was scheduled five months ago, is yet to commence.
The presiding judge said he will reserve his judgment on the submission of the counsels. He adjourned the matter to October 30, 2024 for arraignment and ruling.
’YAHAYA BELLO SHOULD CLEAR HIS NAME’
Meanwhile, the EFCC has advised Bello to quit playing victim and clear the allegations preferred against him.
In a statement, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said Bello must have his day in court no matter the “recourse to blackmail, appeal to emotive public sympathy or acts of brigandage”.
“Yahaya Bello should be more interested in clearing his name than playing the victim and crying persecution where none exists,” the statement reads.
“To even insinuate that he was the target of a phantom assassination attempt because the EFCC made efforts to effect his arrest at the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge where he had been hiding is preposterous.
“But EFCC is not deterred by this and other shenanigans by the ex-governor. The Commission remains committed to ensuring that the law takes its course in the money laundering charges already filed against Yahaya Bello in Court.
“EFCC is eager to engage the former governor in the courtroom where the avalanche of evidence so painstakingly assembled can be presented and arguments marshalled for justice to be served to all parties involved in this saga.
“The true test of Yahaya Bello’s willingness to abide by the law in the criminal proceedings instituted against him at the Federal High Court Abuja by the EFCC is to present himself to the court in obedience to the order of Justice Nwite.
“His presence in court is the only step that will convince Nigerians that his touted submission to the EFCC which was widely reported in the media on September 18, was not a stunt”
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