FORMER Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has again presented himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged misappropriation of funds levelled against him.
According to reports, Bello visited the EFCC office on Tuesday, November 26, accompanied by his lawyers.
This development followed the Supreme Court dismissal of a suit by some states challenging the EFCC’s powers. Kogi State played a lead role in the case in what many believed was a ploy to stop his trial by the EFCC.
Bello reportedly drove himself to the EFCC office in a black Hilux Tuesday morning.
Last week, the EFCC requested a hearing adjournment of his case to November 27.
Meanwhile, his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, were granted administrative bail.
Attempts to confirm Bello’s presence at the EFCC office on Tuesday were unsuccessful as the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, did not respond to calls and messages sent to his line.
On September 18, Bello presented himself to the EFCC after months of hide-and-seek and legal fireworks that failed to work in his favour.
His media aide, Ohiare Michael, said in a statement that the fugitive former governor presented himself “after due consultations with his family, legal team, and political allies.”.
The statement said the former governor honoured the invitation to clear his name, adding that he had nothing to hide and fear.
The EFCC later declared that the embattled politician was not in its custody.
The EFCC revealed this in a statement signed and posted on X on Wednesday, September 18.
In the statement, the commission said the ex-governor remained wanted “for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges”.
The EFCC stated that media reports that Bello had honoured the EFCC’s invitation were untrue.
Bello has been facing allegations of financial impropriety, as the EFCC accused him of laundering N80.2 billion and other infractions while he served as governor.
He was charged with three others, including his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu.
The EFCC declared Bello wanted in April 2024, after he allegedly declined invitations for interrogation.
The photograph of the former governor was displayed with the inscription ‘WANTED’.
The charges against Bello include conspiring to convert the sum of N80.2 billion (N80,246,470,089.88) believed to be part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, specifically from criminal breach of trust.
The EFCC has been pushing to bring Yahaya Bello to trial, and the Court of Appeal recently ordered him to appear for arraignment.
The ICIR reported that EFCC operatives stormed Bello’s Abuja home on Wednesday, April 17, to arrest him.
However, the arrest was unsuccessful, as multiple reports said his successor – Ododo – smuggled out the former governor where the operatives were about to capture him.
In April, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, vowed to step down if he failed to prosecute the accused.
Olukoyede also warned that anyone interfering with Bello’s arrest would face consequences.
A reporter with the ICIR
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