EFCC Declares Former Governor Yahaya Bello Wanted
OpenLife Nigeria reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, April 18, 2024 declared a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello wanted in connection with an alleged money laundering.
The former was declared wanted for offences relating to economic and financial crimes.
This was contained in a statement signed by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity and made available to OpenLife.
The notice read, “The public is hereby notified that Yahaya Adoza Bello (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88.
“Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State.
“His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.”
The notice asked anybody with useful information about the former governor’s whereabouts to contact any of the commission’s offices across the country.
The anti-graft commission had earlier stated that it would, on Thursday (today), arraign the former governor before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
This was after the EFCC was granted a warrant of arrest by the Federal High Court in Abuja to apprehend the former governor.
The agency’s team of lawyers, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, during the proceedings on Thursday, said that EFCC operatives were prepared to carry out the arrest warrant for the former governor, even if it requires the use of force.
“We have to arraign him in court even if we have to use the military. Immunity is only attached to a person and not the building.
“The law allows to break down walls to arrest an evading defendant. Section 284 says all persons are to obey the service of charge,” Pinheiro stated.
At Bello’s Abuja residence, on Wednesday, a group of armed men, identified as “Special Forces,” along with officers from the Nigeria Police Force, intervened to prevent the EFCC operatives from apprehending him.
Reports have it that the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, intervened to prevent the arrest of the former governor of the state by EFCC operatives.
Ododo’s team allegedly escorted Bello out of the location in the governor’s vehicle.
Bello and three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite.
In same breadth, the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, has commenced investigation of alleged illegal activities of eight suspected dealers in petroleum products without appropriate licences.
The arrested suspects are: Pere Ebiye (Captain), Okon David (DeckMan) , Enuwa Wilson (Cook) , Wesley Okon (DeckMan) , Ade Ojo Idowu (Asst. Engineer) , Oluwadamire Abraham (DeckMan) , Oluwole Azuzu (Asst. Captain) and Taiwo Adebanwo (Chief Engineer) .
They were arrested on Friday February 23, 2024, onboard a wooden boat, MV Jasmine, which was laden with 30, 000 (Thirty Thousand) litres of petroleum products suspected to be crude, bunkered in a cellophane- sealed compartment of the boat and in four Geepee tanks.
Both the arrested crew members and the exhibits were handed over to the Commission on Tuesday April 3, 2024 by the Commanding Officer Captain (NN) Uche Aneke of the Nigeria Navy Ship, Forward Operating Base Ibaka, in Akwa Ibom State.
According to him, the crew were arrested at Posn Lat. 04°18.258°N. Long 008°29. 696’E by the Navy Ship Ekulu during a patrol. He expressed determination to ensure that the Nigerian waterways remain safe and free of criminal activities.
“The Navy is on alert to arrest and prosecute any person found culpable in any criminal activity on our waterways or conveying illegal products as well as petroleum products”, he said.
While receiving the crew members, boat and products, the Uyo Zonal Commander, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Bawa H. Saidu who was represented by Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE1 Terseer Chinyam thanked the Nigerian Navy and assured it of the Commission’s readiness to always partner with it and other security agencies to curb economic crimes in Nigeria.
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