A video of the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attempting to arrest the embattled immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, at the State governor’s lodge has surfaced.
The Asokoro district in the Federal Capital Territory witnessed sporadic gunshots on Wednesday night September 18, during the attempted arrest by the anti-graft agency.
Resistance by security operatives at the governor’s lodge immediately led to an altercation with armed officials of the anti-graft agency. The incumbent Kogi governor, Ahmed Ododo, allegedly whisked Bello away in the heat of the moment.
There was confusion yesterday following reports and counter reports of the former governor appearing before EFCC officials.
Bello’s media team had on Wednesday morning released a statement claiming he was at the EFCC office to honour their invitation The agency later released a statement denying the claim and saying that the former governor is still a wanted person.
The Nation however reported that a source in the agency claimed Yahaya Bello indeed visited the commission but was not attended to as he came in a convoy with his successor. The EFCC source told the publication that Bello breeched the protocol of the commission by coming in a convoy with an incumbent governor.
‘’Upon realising that Bello came with the governor and some dignitaries, the Executive Chairman directed that no official should attend to him. His manner of coming to EFCC was a breach of our protocol. No Nigerian, no matter how highly placed, is expected to come for an invitation in a convoy of vehicles and with a sitting governor.
To the EFCC, he came with grandeur which is contrary to our procedures. There are stages of documentation which Bello skipped because he was with the governor who has immunity.
The EFCC also did not invite the governor. So, what was the basis for accompanying Bello to our headquarters in Abuja?
We have not been comfortable with the roles of the governor in this case. After fulfilling all procedures of documentation, Bello was expected to come with his lawyer(s) and not a governor or Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).
We cannot be intimidated or subject our system to political pollution. This made the Executive Chairman of EFCC to direct that no official should attend to Bello. He must undergo due process like every invitee.
The commission was unhappy with the pre-emptive propaganda in the media by Bello’s team which had created false impressions.
There was a narration that the ex-governor was already in EFCC’s custody.”
Watch the video from the attempted arrest of the former governor below;
