The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest and detention of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

According to the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, Mr. Bello is currently being grilled by the commission’s investigators and will be detained and arraigned in court as soon as possible.

Mr. Bello’s arrest comes after he shunned several court summons to face corruption charges at the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court in Abuja. He is accused of money laundering involving N80 billion in Kogi State funds and dishonestly diverting over N110 billion from the state government’s treasury during his eight-year tenure as governor.

The EFCC had filed fresh corruption charges against Mr. Bello at the FCT High Court in late September. His arraignment has been scheduled for November 27, 2024, by Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT High Court.

Mr Bello’s surrender to the EFCC on Tuesday was a dramatic turn of events, considering his previous attempts to evade arrest. On September 18, he had made a controversial surrender to the commission in Abuja, accompanied by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo. However, the EFCC refused to arrest him, leading to a confrontation between EFCC operatives and the governor’s security details.