EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello visited their headquarters on September 18, 2024.

The Commission also warned that Bello’s day in court is inevitable, as he faces 18-count charges of money laundering preferred against him, totalling N80.2 billion.

According to the EFCC, Bello’s visit was an attempt to surrender, but it was rejected due to his previous antics. The Commission said it views these actions as scaremongering intended to scandalize them.

The appropriate place of surrender would be before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, before whom his legal team had undertaken to produce him to answer to the 18-count charges,” the EFCC stated.

It can be recalled that on September 18, 2024, Bello visited the EFCC headquarters, although with a retinue of security details with his successor, Governor Usman Ododo who is immune to arrest, according to Nigerian law.

The governor was not attended to by the commission and has also failed to show up in court on Wednesday.

The EFCC said it remains committed to ensuring the law takes its course, despite Bello’s attempts to discredit them.

“Yahaya Bello should be more interested in clearing his name than playing the victim and crying persecution, where none exists,” the EFCC stated.

The EFCC had filed 18-count charges of money laundering against Bello, alleging that he laundered N80.2 billion during his tenure as Kogi State Governor.

Bello’s legal team had undertaken to produce him before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. However, his failure to appear in court has raised questions about his willingness to face trial.

The EFCC said it has arraigned several high-profile individuals, including three former ministers and two ex-governors, demonstrating their commitment to tackling economic and financial crimes.

“Every former governor, minister, head of ministries, departments and agencies being investigated by the Commission would soon be charged to court,” the EFCC assured.

The commission reiterated its no sacred cow policy, emphasizing that no individual is above the law.

The commission reiterated its no sacred cow policy, emphasizing that no individual is above the law.

“Corruption issues should not be turned into a theatre of the absurd. Those who harbour criminal suspects will face punishment, as it is also a criminal offence,” the Commission warned.

The statement reads in full:

Yahaya Bello Must Have his Day in Court

It is public knowledge that a former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello had made several unsuccessful attempts to throw spanners in his ongoing trial through some irresponsible and utterly rascally efforts. The appropriate place of surrender would be before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, before whom his legal team had undertaken to produce him to answer to the 18-count charges of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Yahaya Bello should be more interested in clearing his name than playing the victim and crying persecution, where none exists. To even insinuate that he was the target of a phantom assassination attempt because the EFCC made efforts to effect his arrest at the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge where he had been hiding, is preposterous. It is the first time in the Commission’s more than two decades existence that such a jejune claim would be made. This is no more than scaremongering, intended to scandalise the Commission.

But EFCC is not deterred by this, and other shenanigans by the ex-governor. The Commission remains committed to ensuring that the law takes its course in the money laundering charges already filed against Yahaya Bello in Court.

EFCC is eager to engage the former governor in the courtroom where the avalanche of evidence so painstakingly assembled can be presented and arguments marshalled for justice to be served to all parties involved in this saga. The true test of Yahaya Bello’s willingness to abide by the law in the criminal proceedings instituted against him at the Federal High Court Abuja by the EFCC is to present himself to the court in obedience to the order of Justice Nwite. His presence in court is the only step that will convince Nigerians that his touted submission to the EFCC which was widely reported in the media on September 18, was not a stunt.

Former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) amidst allegations of money laundering and corrupt practices to the tune of N80.2 billion.

Bello was declared wanted by the EFCC but has maintained that he respects the rule of law and constituted authority.

According to a statement from his media office, Bello’s decision to honour the EFCC invitation was made after consulting with his family, legal team, and political allies.

He said that he had only sought to enforce his fundamental human rights to ensure due process.

The statement reads in part: “The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. It is important for the former Governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.

“The former Governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development; supports the fight against corruption in the country.

“It is on record that he was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the State work for the people of the State.

“He was accompanied to the EFCC Headquarters by high-profile Nigerians.

“It is our hope that the Commission will be as professional as necessary and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Details of his engagement with the operatives of the Anti-Graft Agency will be disclosed later.”