- Officials didn’t interrogate him – Media team
- EFCC operatives storm Kogi Govt House Abuja
- Hold EFCC accountable if anything untoward happens to him – Associates
The former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday morning honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, at their office in Abuja.
A statement by the Director of his Media Office, Ohiare Michael, said the decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies.
The statement also said details of his engagement with the operatives of the anti-graft agency would be disclosed later.
The statement from his Media Office read, “The former Governor, who has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had, all the while, only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
“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; and 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.”
Reacting, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale denied that the former governor was in its custody, adding that Bello remains wanted.
Officials didn’t interrogate him- Media team
But in another statement, Michael insisted that Bello was at the EFCC office alongside his successor, Usman Ododo.
He added that the EFCC did not, however, interrogate him and told him he could leave.
Michael said, “Earlier today, we reported the voluntary visit of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office to honour the Commission’s invitation.
“In the statement, we reiterated the former Governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority and stressed that all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
“The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“Recall that 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. The former Governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”
EFCC operatives storm Kogi Govt House Abuja
The media office of the former Kogi State Governor later raised the alarm over the moves by operatives of the EFCC to arrest the ex-governor.
In a statement made available by the office’s Director of Media, Ohiare Michael, he noted that the operatives “are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello.”
The operatives also seized the camera, tripod and staff bus of the Channels Television crew who were at the lodge.
According to Bello’s media team, the EFCC operatives didn’t interrogate the ex-Kogi governor but rather asked him to leave.
The statement read, “It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically.
“It was reported earlier that the former Governor went to the EFCC Office voluntarily earlier today, but the Commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount a Gestapo-like attack on the Kogi State Government facility in Asokoro.
“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him.”
The ex-governor’s media team condemned the attack, saying it was “needless” as Bello had turned himself in earlier.
“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.
“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,” the statement read.
