The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given reasons why the former Governor Yahaya Bello Kogi State was not arrested when he, in the company of incumbent Governor Usman Ododo, presented himself at the car park of the anti-graft agency last week.
Recall Bello, who is having a running battle with the EFCC, last week Wednesday honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency, reportedly, after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies.
However, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, disclosed on Arise News today that Bello had a game plan with the manner by which he honoured the invitation.
“Before Yahaya Bello arrived at the car park of the EFCC, he had already sent out media information across all the platforms that he had presented himself to the EFCC and they were even saying that he had been detained and that was not true.
“At the time that information got across, Yahaya Bello was not even in the premises of the EFCC. He had not even arrived there. That for us was an indication that he had a game plan, which was not a matter of just merely submitting himself to the Commission and that game plan can only be explained by him, himself alone,” the EFCC Director said.
Gov Ododo turning himself into an accomplice – Uwujaren
Speaking further, the EFCC Director revealed that all this while Bello has been dodging the EFCC and stalling proceedings, he has been hiding in the Government House in Lokoja.
Uwujaren accused Governor Ododo to have aided the escape of Bello when the EFCC made the first attempt for his arrest.
“From our review of what really happened, it was simply a case of the current Governor, Ododo being conscious of the fact that he was turning himself into an accomplice of a crime probably he did not know about.
“Because, all this while Yahaya Bello has been dodging the EFCC and stalling proceedings, he has been hiding in the Government House in Lokoja, and his escape when we made an attempt to arrest him the first time, it was the same Governor that took him away.
“I am sure his minders went and told him that look, what you are doing Mr Governor, you will probably after you have left office you will probably be liable for prosecution for obstructing justice. I believe that that was the reason why Governor Ododo brought Yahaya Bello to the car park of the EFCC.
“That was not what the Court of Appeal asked them to do. The decision of the Court of Appeal was to say, go and present yourself before Justice Nwite. That was the ruling, not present yourself before the car park of the EFCC,” Uwujaren said.
What they should have done…
Speaking further on why the EFCC failed to pick Bello when he arrived at the car park of the Commission, the EFCC Director said: “In coming to the EFCC, for instance, they breached all protocols. The security at our entrance out of courtesy to a sitting Governor allowed Governor Ododo to drive into our car park.
“If they were responsible citizens, who wanted to comply with the law, what they should have done immediately they arrived at our premises is to go to the security post and tell the security on guard that look Yahaya Bello has come to present himself to the EFCC and those on duty know what to do when a fugitive from the law presents himself”.
Uwujaren added: “What they should have done there and then was to call the case officer and tell him that look the suspect we have been looking for is here now. And then we will take charge. But they did not do that.
“They breached our security; breached our protocol; went into the car park and were taking photographs, which is not allowed within the premises of the EFCC. And Governor Ododo was insisting on seeing the Executive Chairman of the EFCC. That is not what you do when you want to submit a suspect to a law enforcement agency”.
NOP reports the EFCC Director also disclosed that the allegation against Bello is that he took advantage of his position as Governor to loot the treasury of Kogi State to help himself with funds, which he used to procure properties in Abuja and as far away as Dubai. Uwujaren confirmed fresh charges have been filed against the former Governor, alleging his involvement in a fraud amounting to N110.4 billion.