The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has refuted media reports that a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is in its holding facility and says he is still wanted while former Governor Bello’s media team say he has honoured an EFCC invitation.
The Commission in a statement signed by its Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, says Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.
The Anti-graft Agency is prosecuting Yahaya Bello alongside Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-nine Naira.
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Also on Wednesday, Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael issued a statement saying its Principal had honoured an invitation by the EFCC at the Commission’s corporate Headquarters and that Bello’s decision to appear before the EFCC followed consultations with his family, legal team, and political associates.
The statement further said the EFCC did not interrogate Yahaya Bello as officials told him he could leave and he left the EFCC”s office in company of current Kogi state governor Usman Ododo who was with him on arrival.
It was further stressed in the statement that the case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction and Yahaya Bello duly represented by his legal team at every hearing, adding that the former Governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
Meanwhile, the Media Team of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello insists that he visited the EFCC office in company of Governor Usman Ododo out of his “great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority” but he was not interrogated and told he could leave.
Below is full text of the statement from the former Governor’ Media Team:
YAHAYA BELLO MEDIA OFFICE
PRESS RELEASE
UPDATE: FORMER GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO LEAVES EFCC OFFICE, YET TO BE INTERROGATED
- Earlier today, we reported the voluntary visit of former Governor of Kogi State, HE Alh. Yahaya Bello to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office to honour the Commission’s invitation.
- In the statement, we reiterated the former Governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, and stressed that, all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
- The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
- Recall that the case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. The former Governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
Ohiare Michael
Director, Media
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
