Challenge for Bello as EFCC Insists Ex Kogi Gov Must Have Day in Court, Details Emerge

• The EFCC has said Yahaya Bello remains wanted for alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of N80.2 billion
• At the court on Wednesday, September 25, the anti-graft agency said Bello’s appearance at the EFCC car park in Abuja was “out of place”
• The EFCC reminded the former Kogi governor that his possible arraignment would not take place in the commission's office

Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs.

FCT, Abuja - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, September 25, insisted that former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, must "surrender" before Justice Emeka Nwite of the federal high court, Abuja.

In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the EFCC said Bello's legal team had undertaken to produce him to answer to the 18-count charges of money laundering it levelled against him.

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The anti-graft agency stated that Bello "should be more interested in clearing his name than playing the victim and crying persecution".

Recall on September 18, Bello’s media office said the ex-governor had honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation.

The EFCC immediately denied that Bello was in its custody, restating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was still a wanted man.

However, Bello’s media office responded by saying the politician was not interrogated when he visited the EFCC office and was turned back.

The media office of the former governor also alleged that operatives of the EFCC laid siege to the Kogi government lodge in Abuja in a bid to forcefully arrest Bello.

The EFCC's statement partly reads:

"The incident of Wednesday, September 18, 2024, regarding the orchestrated antics of the former governor to surrender himself to the EFCC, having denied being invited by the Commission and operating underground as a fugitive for several months, expectedly raised concerns and curiosity of many Nigerians who had been waiting frantically for his arrest and trial.

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"As a responsible anti-graft agency, the EFCC is sensitive to public opinions, especially if they are in tandem with its operational codes and Standard Operating Procedures. However, no hysteria, blackmail, sentiment or coordinated attacks in some section of the media would make the Commission compromise its integrity."

Read the EFCC's full statement below:

EFCC tackles Bello’s non-appearance in court

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), the lead prosecution counsel in the trial of Bello, told Justice Nwite that the recent appearance of the former Kogi governor at the parking lots of the EFCC was out of place.

Pinheiro argued that both the trial court and court of appeal ordered Bello to present himself for arraignment in the N80.2 billion money laundering charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

Source: Legit.ng