Tension Rises as EFCC Reportedly Attempts to Arrest Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello

The media office of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has claimed that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attempted to arrest the ex-governor on Wednesday night at the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

According to a statement by Ohiare Michael, Director of Media for Bello’s team, EFCC officers allegedly surrounded the government lodge and “shot sporadically in the air” during the operation. Michael stated that this was an attempt to forcefully apprehend the former governor.

“It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically,” the statement read.

The statement also noted that Yahaya Bello had earlier visited the EFCC’s office voluntarily that same day. According to the media team, the commission had asked him to leave and return at a later date. However, later that night, the EFCC reportedly launched what the team described as a “Gestapo-like attack” on the lodge.

“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him,” the statement added. The team criticized the EFCC’s actions, claiming that the former governor had made himself available for interrogation earlier in the day, but no questions were asked of him.

“The EFCC had no question to ask Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they are out to arrest him. This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they were fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption,” the statement further alleged.

The statement concluded by asserting that the situation extended beyond corruption charges, promising to “keep Nigerians posted” on further developments.

This comes amid reports that the EFCC has filed a 19-count money laundering charge against Bello in the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite.