Finally, Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello Surrenders, Lands In EFCC’s Net

After several months of playing hide-and-seek with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, immediate past Governor of Kogi State, is finally in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

Competent sources confirmed that Bello was picked up on Tuesday, November 26, and is currently cooling his feet inside the Commission’s custody following months of evading arrest and being absent from court.

However, according to his media aides, the former governor voluntarily honoured the earlier invitation extended to him by the anti-corruption agency to appear at the EFCC Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, the nation’s capital city over alleged misappropriation of funds during his eight years tenure as Kogi State Chief Executive.

According to information from his aides, the embattled former governor drove himself in a black Hilux to the EFCC office on Tuesday morning, accompanied by his team of lawyers.

But giving contrary information on the latest development, EFCC’s sources said Bello, who is now in its custody, was actually picked up by operatives of the anti-graft agency.

Confirming the arrest, EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said the former governor was taken into custody at 12:54 PM today but declined to give additional information on the exact location where the former Governor was arrested to face his stalled corruption charges in court.

Responding to enquiries on whether Bello voluntarily surrendered to the Commission given the widespread condemnation that has continued to trail his whereabouts, the EFCC Spokesperson said; “Suffice to say that we arrested him at 12:54 PM, and he is in our custody right now.”

On 3rd October 2024, Justice Maryanne Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, Abuja, had issued a public summons, requiring the former governor to appear before the court to face a fresh 16-count charge brought against him and two others by the anti-corruption agency.

In the case marked FCT/HC/CR/778/24, the former governor is accused of criminal breach of trust involving the sum of N110,446,470,089, among other charges. He is charged alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu.

The Court ordered him to appear before it on October 24, which he failed to do and the summon was subsequently extended November 14, the last adjourned date, with Bello again failing to make appearance in court.

EFCC counsel Jamiu Agoro informed the court that the 30-day duration of the public summons issued against the former governor would lapse on November 17. He clarified that the summons was still valid.

Arguing that it would be inappropriate to take the plea of the defendants while the summons remained in effect, Agoro said Bello was expected to appear at the next adjourned date, failing which the prosecution would take appropriate action.

Agoro also requested the court to extend the time within which Bello must appear and to issue an order for the hearing notice to be pasted at his last known address, Number 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

The case was subsequently adjourned by Justice Anenih to tomorrow, Wednesday, November 27 for the defendant to take his plea.

Meanwhile, competent sources hinted that this fresh moves and change of heart by Bello and his team may not be unconnected with the recent Supreme Court judgment dismissing the case filled by some States, including Kogi, challenging the constitutionality of the anti-graft agency.