Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has reportedly evaded arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), allegedly with the assistance of his successor, Governor Usman Ododo.
The EFCC had laid siege to the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja on Wednesday, attempting to apprehend Bello, who is wanted in connection with an alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud case.
However, sources who spoke with Punch indicate that Ododo intervened, leveraging the immunity afforded him as a sitting governor to facilitate Bello’s escape.
This incident echoes a similar situation in April, when Ododo was accused of aiding Bello during another raid by EFCC operatives in Abuja, effectively allowing the former governor to avoid capture.
Following a visit by both Bello and Ododo to the EFCC headquarters, the commission publicly denied having Bello in custody. EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale emphasized that despite assertions from Bello’s media team about his visit, he was not detained.
EFCC officials revealed that Ododo’s actions played a significant role in Bello’s continued evasion, noting that the governor’s immunity hindered their ability to act on their intentions to arrest the former governor.
One of the officials said, “Yahaya Bello has not been arrested. The Kogi State governor prevented operatives from doing their work yesterday just like he did the other time. He took him away and our men could not do anything because of the immunity he (Ododo) is enjoying.”