Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, reportedly escaped arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, with the alleged assistance of his successor, Governor Usman Ododo. The EFCC had laid siege to the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja in an attempt to apprehend Bello over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud case.
Despite the well-planned operation, sources within the EFCC claim that Ododo, who enjoys immunity as a sitting governor, facilitated Bello’s escape, marking the second time such an incident has occurred this year. A similar operation in April reportedly saw Governor Ododo help his predecessor evade EFCC operatives during a raid in Abuja.
Wednesday’s failed arrest attempt followed a visit by both Bello and Ododo to the EFCC headquarters. After the visit, the anti-graft commission publicly denied that Bello had been detained, despite initial reports from Bello’s media team claiming he had voluntarily appeared before the agency.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that Yahaya Bello was not in their custody, but sources within the commission indicated that Governor Ododo’s intervention once again obstructed their efforts to arrest Bello.
One EFCC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, commented on the situation: “Yahaya Bello has not been arrested. The Kogi State governor prevented operatives from doing their work yesterday just like he did the other time. He took him away, and our men could not do anything because of the immunity he (Ododo) is enjoying.”
Efforts to obtain further comment from EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to him went unanswered at the time of filing this report. Similarly, the phone number of Ohaire Michael, Director of Bello’s media team, was switched off, and he had not responded to a message seeking clarification.
The EFCC’s interest in Bello stems from an ongoing investigation into an alleged N80.2 billion fraud case during his tenure as governor of Kogi State. However, with Ododo’s immunity from prosecution shielding him from direct legal action, the EFCC’s attempts to apprehend the former governor have been stymied.
This latest episode adds a new dimension to the EFCC’s efforts in curbing corruption among high-profile political figures, particularly those who enjoy protection through executive privilege. As the investigation continues, the EFCC is likely to face growing challenges in bringing Bello to justice.