Yahaya Bello finally in EFCC custody

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.

TheCable understands that the former Kogi governor reported to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday morning.

The EFCC had charged the former governor with alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of N80.2 billion.

Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, confirmed the arrest of the former governor.

“We have arrested him. Our chief security officer arrested him and he was brought in by 12:54pm. He is having a session with our investigators. We are holding him in our custody,” Oyewale told TheCable.

In September, Bello honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency in Ododo’s company.

The former governor and Ododo were at the car park of the Abuja office of the EFCC, but the anti-graft agency did not arrest him.

BACKGROUND

In April, the commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful.

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

Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, would later allege that Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi coffers to pay his child’s school fees in advance.

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

However, the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the former governor.

In May, Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel to Bello, told the court that the former governor’s whereabouts remain unknown and that he was nurturing some safety concerns.

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

Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, had said the court’s ruling was a “vindication” of the EFCC’s stance that Bello must face trial.

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.