Fugitive Yahaya Bello Finally Gives Self Up To EFCC

By Adesina Soyooye

Months after making a ridicule of himself before the Nigerian public, Yahaya Bello, who made himself a fugitive in his own country, has finally surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The Commission had invited Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, to its Headquarters in Abuja, to clear a number of alleged questionable dealings he was involved in while he was Kogi Governor.

For the number of times he was invited, Bello refused to appear, not even after an assurance by the EFCC Chairman to give him a special very respectable treatment.

The EFCC boss had assured him that he would be interviewed in his (EFCC’s Chair’s Office) and even be allowed to enter the EFCC Headquarters through the gate only the EFCC Chairman uses.

Frustrated, EFCC Operatives stormed Bello’s Abuja residence in April. And, after many hours of stand-off during which he refused to appear or give up,  his State Governor,  Ahmed Ododo, the man he installed as his successor, drove in. Ododo drove out after sometime, and that became the last time anybody saw Bello.

He was, apparently, as seriously alleged, spirited away by Governor Ododo and as also, strongly speculated, hidden at the Government House,  Lokoja.

Bello, also, refused to appear in Court when  summoned. All his assurances, through his legal team, to appear, were never kept.

The Court was forced to issue a warrant of arrest on him, and Bello was declared wanted by the EFCC.

He had, earlier, requested for his case to be transferred to the Federal High Court, Lokoja from Abuja. At another time, he ridiculously claimed that an unnamed woman had so destroyed him before the EFCC, and the plan was to lock him up.

But suddenly, on Wednesday, September 18, Bello surrendered himself to the EFCC, accompanied by a number of political associates and friends.

In a statement announcing his surrender to the EFCC, his Media Office said:

“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.”

It is expected that he would be arraigned in Court by the EFCC after his interrogation by Operatives.