By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has come under severe attack from Nigerians, following a failed attempt to arrest the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, at the Kogi State Governor’s lodge in the Asokoro District in the Federal Capital Territory.
After months of being declared wanted by the EFCC, a statement by the Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, on Wednesday, said the former governor honoured EFCC invitation “after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies”.
But in a swift reaction to the statement by Bello’s media team, the EFCC said the former governor was not in its custody and remains wanted.
According to Yahaya Bello’s media office, the former Kogi governor and his successor Usman Ododo were at the EFCC office on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale said the ex-governor remains wanted “for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges”.
“Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest,” Oyewale said in a statement.
Following up with his earlier statement, Ohiare Michael released another statement maintaining that Bello honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency but was asked to leave by officials without interrogation.
According to him, the former governor was accompanied to the EFCC office by his successor, Usman Ododo.
“We reiterated the former Governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, and stressed that all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process.
“The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,” the statement read in part.
Reacting to EFCC’s post that Bello was not in their custody even after he visited their office without being arrested, Nigerians took to the media space lambasting the abti-graft agency for fighting corruption with lips. Below are some of their reactions.
Joshua Gboyega: “Olori ibu ni gbogbo yin, as many of you that has vowed that this country won’t be great, as God liveth, anything you gather from this fail system, you will all spend it on sickness!
What’s even paining me is the one heading you that’s from my Ekiti, he knows how his people at home ar suffering due to this failed system, very shameful he couldn’t be a good ambassador of my dear state.”
Ebenezer Adeboye Agbooka:”Who is fooling who, abeg stop all these, we all know that the law is blind but it turn blind eyes to evil deed of the rich, so in country like Nigeria it is now coming to the level of if you want to steal, steal what is big so you can negotiate your ways with any agency, if he was a poor man he will have been apprehended, for how many month even his cell phone will be track. In Nigeria we can all see clearly that the laws favour the rich not the poor masses.”
Bright Chinddh: “This is what we see when the system is skewed to fight corruption selectively.
There are thousands of corrupt Politicians and Business Moguls who are more corrupt than Yahaya Bello, but whose matters are either unsettled or swept under the carpet these years.
Now, the agency has been brought to their kneels, through resistance and neglects from wealthy and powerful individuals.
If it were a poor man’s crime, they would have even gone for mass arrest in his community, thereby endangering even the innocent.
Nigerian Anti Graft Agency, We hail thee!”
Kogi Rebel:”Someone that was in your office today?
We all saw it. Why turn him back after looking for him for months? It is clear to all Nigerians that EFCC is not pursuing any corruption case against FGYB.”
Oma Great:”EFCC and APC government continue deceiving Nigerians till on the day of judgement.”
Alhassn Lawak Jay-boy:”Thunder we go fire EFCC and apc government de do press up hell fire straight God no go judge una case.”