EFCC Attempts to Arrest Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello
Dramatic scenes unfolded in Abuja today as operatives from Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tried to arrest former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello at his residence. However, they were prevented from doing so by police officers, armed men identified as “Special Forces,” and Bello’s private security team.
According to reports, EFCC operatives arrived at Yahaya Bello home in the Wuse Zone 4 area of Abuja around 9:30 am on Wednesday but were blocked from entering by the heavy security presence. The current Kogi Governor, Usman Ododo, later visited Bello amidst the tense standoff in an apparent show of support.
Photographs show armed EFCC personnel laying siege to the former governor’s home as a crowd of youths protested against their actions. The anti-graft agency had previously filed amended money laundering charges against Bello, his nephew Ali, and others over an alleged N84 billion fraud during Bello’s tenure as governor.
However, Bello’s media team insists the EFCC’s attempted arrest violates a court order from February restraining the commission from harassing or prosecuting the former governor pending the conclusion of a fundamental rights case. They have accused the EFCC of allowing itself to be used as a “score-settling tool” by Bello’s political opponents.
The high-stakes confrontation represents a major escalation in the long-running legal battles between Bello and the EFCC over corruption allegations dating back to his governorship from 2016-2024. The former governor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
While the EFCC seems determined to finally arrest Bello on the money laundering charges, his camp is digging in as well – daring the anti-graft agency to disobey the court order protecting him. With powerful political forces reportedly aligned on both sides, this explosive situation risks further polarizing the nation.
As the dust settles from today’s chaotic scenes in Abuja, all eyes will be on whether the EFCC can successfully bring Bello into custody or if they will be forced to respect the court injunction, at least for now. The highly-charged nature of this case means any misstep by either side could have serious consequences.
Nigeria’s new administration under President Bola Tinubu now faces an immediate test in navigating this explosive legal quagmire pitting the former governor of a key state against the country’s top anti-corruption body. How the standoff over Yahaya Bello’s arrest is resolved could have major implications for the rule of law and Tinubu’s ability to confront deeply-rooted allegations of graft from the previous era.
Reference
Police, others prevent EFCC from arresting Yahaya Bello published in punch