Former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has left the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja after voluntarily turning himself in, without being interrogated.
The EFCC had preferred 19 charges against the former Kogi governor, alongside his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences totalling N80,246,470,088.88.
After he (Bello) refused to honour several invitations from the EFCC and many attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful, the commission declared him wanted.
The ex-governor thereafter fell completely out of public radar, prompting insinuations that he had fled the country.
However, in a somewhat shocking scenario, Bello surrendered himself to EFCC officials for interrogation on Wednesday morning.
Several footage of the former governor arriving at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, today with his successor, Governor Usman Ododo has surfaced online.
It was also learnt that EFCC officials did not interrogate Bello, instead allowing him to leave after some time.
A statement by Michael Ohiare, Director of Bello Media office revealed that the former governor visited the EFCC to honour its invitation, demonstrating his respect for the law and constituted authority.
Ohiare added that; ”Bello’s decision to honour the invitation was to clear his name, as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”
In a curious twist, EFCC has, however, insisted the former governor is still a wanted man and that the case is ongoing, denying holding him in its facility.
Following reports of his surrender, there were unverified claims that the former governor had been detained by the EFCC.
However, the commission stated on its X page, denying that Mr Bello is being held in their facility.
The statement read: “Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
By Dave Oludare Oso & Friday Omosola
