Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, has once again presented himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of misappropriation of state funds. He was subsequently arrested.
On Tuesday morning, Bello arrived at the EFCC office in Abuja, accompanied by his legal team. He drove himself to the agency’s headquarters in a black Toyota Hilux, as part of his ongoing legal battle with the anti-graft body.
Bello’s appearance at the EFCC follows the recent Supreme Court ruling, which dismissed a lawsuit filed by several states challenging the constitutionality of the EFCC’s operations. This legal victory has cleared the way for the commission to continue its investigations into Bello’s alleged financial misdeeds during his tenure as Kogi State governor.
The former governor’s latest visit to the EFCC comes after the agency had requested an adjournment in the case during the last hearing on November 14. At that session, the EFCC had asked for an extension of the proceedings until November 27, citing the remaining 30-day window for the summons issued earlier.
Bello, who had previously been declared wanted by the EFCC, was arrested by operatives on November 26, 2024, at approximately 12:54 PM in Abuja.
The arrest comes after months of legal wrangling and an attempt to arraign him in court.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that Bello did not surrender voluntarily to the commission but was instead detained by the operatives in the capital. “He did not surrender himself to the commission, three of his lawyers are here with him. Following his arrest, he is being grilled by investigators,” said Oyewale.
Bello is facing multiple charges in connection with alleged money laundering, with the EFCC accusing him of embezzling over N80 billion during his time as governor.
Despite numerous summons from the court, the former governor had refused to appear for his arraignment, which led to his declaration as a fugitive in April 2024.
Earlier this year, EFCC agents stormed his residence in an attempt to arrest him, but the operation faced stiff resistance. After hours of stand-off, security forces, including the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), were mobilized to assist, but Bello had managed to avoid capture.
The situation reached a critical point when Kogi State’s current governor, Usman Ododo, arrived at the scene. Bello was rumored to be in his vehicle, prompting the EFCC agents to open fire in a desperate bid to capture him.
Bello’s reappearance at the EFCC’s Abuja office marks a significant development in the ongoing case, as he faces trial for 19 counts of money laundering and financial misappropriation. The trial is expected to focus on the alleged diversion of billions of naira from the state’s coffers during his eight years in office.
At the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, where his trial was initially set to begin, the EFCC had urged the court to proceed with his case in absentia after he repeatedly failed to show up. The EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the trial should not be hindered by Bello’s refusal to attend, as this would undermine the rule of law.
“The court cannot demonstrate helplessness. Justice is a three-way street,” Pinheiro remarked in a court hearing. “A criminal trial must not be held hostage or frustrated by the defendant’s refusal to engage the process.”
Despite the EFCC’s efforts, Bello’s defense team, led by Michael Adoyi, opposed the motion, citing a previous court order that demanded the defendant’s presence before any applications could be heard.
Adoyi argued that the motion to proceed without Bello’s presence was in violation of the court’s directives, creating a legal stalemate.
The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly given the high-profile nature of the accusations against the former governor. His arrest and subsequent detention underscore the EFCC’s determination to tackle corruption within the Nigerian political elite, particularly those suspected of misusing public funds.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court was tasked with overseeing the case but deferred making a ruling on whether the trial could proceed in Bello’s absence, due to the full court schedule. The case has been adjourned until January 2025, with a ruling expected soon after the new year.
