The government of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the ex-governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and warned Nigerians against obstructing the agency from carrying out its lawful duty.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) made this known in a statement issued on Thursday.
The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has continued to obstruct efforts by the commission’s officials to arrest him on matters bordering on corruption allegations.
The EFCC has filed 19 criminal charges against Yahaya Adoza Bello, former governor of Kogi State, relating to criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
These charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, under case FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, dated March 9, 2024. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant.
According to the charge, Bello is accused of converting funds totaling N80,246,470,089.88 belonging to the Kogi State government to himself in February 2016. This offense contravenes Section 18(a) and is punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
Additionally, Bello is alleged to have indirectly used individuals named Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu to utilize N950 million, proceeds of crime, for the acquisition of property located at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
The EFCC expressed frustration as their attempt to execute a lawfully obtained warrant of arrest against Bello was met with resistance on Wednesday. The agency stated that Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State whisked Bello away in his official vehicle, preventing his arrest.
But in the statement issued on Thursday, Fagbemi said: “The bizarre drama confronting the EFCC in the course of its efforts to perform its statutory duty,” with respect to the charge it filed against the erstwhile governor, has come to his notice, describing it as “a matter of very grave concern”.
“It is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigation into any matter regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting.
“A flight from the law does not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbates it.
“I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC and indeed any other agency to order when there is indication of any transgression of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies but I also tenaciously hold the view that institutions of State should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world.”
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