In a statement released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), it was confirmed that former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, is not in the custody of the commission. This contradicts earlier reports claiming that Bello had surrendered himself to the authorities.
EFCC Spokesperson Dele Oyewale clarified the situation in a statement on Wednesday, saying that the media reports are incorrect. “Media reports today that 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,” the statement read.
Bello has been declared wanted by the EFCC over allegations of fraud, and he remains under a subsisting warrant for his arrest.
Meanwhile, the Director of Bello’s Media Office, Ohiare Michael, claimed that Bello had honored the EFCC’s invitation to clear his name, despite the alleged fraud charges. According to Michael, Bello was accompanied to the EFCC headquarters by high-profile Nigerians and made the decision to attend the meeting after consulting with his family, legal team, and political allies.
Bello has a deep respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, and his only aim is to ensure due process by exercising his fundamental rights, Michael stated. He expressed hope that the EFCC will respect Bello’s fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is worth noting that Bello has denied any wrongdoing and is willing to cooperate with the authorities to clear his name.
In this situation, Bello’s camp has given conflicting accounts, and the EFCC’s statement leaves more questions than answers. It is essential to remain impartial and let the truth be revealed through a fair and transparent investigation.