Ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Claims EFCC Attempted To Forcefully Arrest Him Amid Money Laundering Allegations

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello revealed Wednesday night that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives tried to arrest him forcefully, after he was accused of money laundering.

According to a press statement from Bello's media office, EFCC agents surrounded the Kogi State Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, and fired their guns repeatedly, while trying to make the arrest.

However, the statement didn't clarify if former Bello was staying at the Kogi State Governor's Lodge that night. The statement expressed confusion over the EFCC's late-night actions, noting that the commission did not take him in for questioning, despite him having surrendered earlier that day.

"Tonight's attack was needless as the former Governor made himself available to the EFCC in their office for interrogation. The EFCC had no questions to ask Alh. Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they are out to arrest him," the statement mentioned, as per Premium Times.

"This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they were fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption. This action reflects much more than the fight against corruption."

EFCC, on the other hand, did not confirm or deny if Bello had refused the arrest or surrendered himself at its headquarters. However, it did deny having Bello in its custody.

In April, the EFCC declared Bello wanted after a failed attempt to arrest him at his home in Abuja. At the last hearing in July, Judge Emeka Nwite postponed the case until Sept. 25 after rejecting a request from Bello's legal team to halt the proceedings.

The EFCC charged Bello with 19 counts of money laundering, accusing him of misusing over N80 billion of Kogi State's funds. The charges were filed after Bello finished his second term as governor in January.

Ali Bello, the former governor's nephew, is also on trial in a related case at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Despite filing charges against Bello, the EFCC has been unable to bring him to court for his arraignment.