*Pix above: During Gov Ododo’s smuggling of Yahaya Bello
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Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State has reportedly smuggeld out his predecessor, Yahaya Bello from his residence to evade arrest by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC operatives had earlier restricted movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi street, Wuse Zone 4.
After hours of being unable to secure their mission, the security operatives had reinforced with backup support from the Police and Department of State Services (DSS).
It was gathered that they were planning to forcefully arrest him before the arrival of Ododo.
After a few hours, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the Bello’s residence and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.
The agency’s longtime interest in him led to the filing of N10 billion corruption charges against his nephew, Ali Bello, and a co-defendant for money laundering at the Federal High Court in Abuja, in 2022.
Days after he finished his tenure, the EFCC, on 5 February, amended the charges, raising the number of counts from 10 to 17 against the younger Bello and his co-defendant, Dauda Suleiman, in a trial that dates back to 2022.
The prosecution named Mr Bello in one of the newly-introduced counts as an accomplice. But the agency has yet to charge him as a defendant.
In the new count, the anti-graft agency accused Mr Bello of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N84 billion.
This is even a court has stopped EFCC from arresting, detaining or prosecuting the ex-Gov Yahaya Bello.
As the cat-mouse game goes on, observers say Bello’s matter is as mosquito on the scrotum, as EFCC remains in a fix to arrest arrest him as long as his successor Ododo continues to shield him with his immunity. /PLEASE SHARE
*Tags:Yahaya Bello, Gov Usman Ododo, EfCC
