Heavily troubled former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello is currently mobilising some groups to protest against his planned arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), SaharaReporters has learnt.
The anti-graft agency declared 48-year-old Bello wanted after he failed to appear for arraignment on 19-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
SaharaReporters reliably gathered on Monday that fugitive Bello is allegedly sponsoring a protest against EFCC over his trial.
A video SaharaReporters obtained showed some printed banners in preparation for the “solidarity” protest against the anti-graft agency.
Some of the printed banners reads: “Gov. Bello: EFCC Losing Credibility.” “Save Nigerian’s Democracy, Remove the bad eggs!” “Nigerians’ want EFCC to fight for Nigeria not politicians.” “Remove political witchhunt from Judiciary.” “Fighting corruption illegally is corruption!” “Follow due process of the law.” “No Justice in witch-hunt.”
Others read: “We are lawyers of conscience.” “Obedience to court order not optional.” “Obey court order.” “We are Judiciary watchdogs…” “Let Gov. Yahaya Bello breathe!” “Respect Gov. Bello’s rights!” “An independent judiciary is better justice.” “Stop suffocating our Democracy.” “EFCC willing tool in the hands political enemies?” “EFCC: Don’t disobey laws you are created to enforce,” among others.
Although SaharaReporters could not independently ascertain the location where the posters are currently being printed, a source disclosed that they were printed in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
Recall April 18, that EFCC had filed 19 criminal count charge before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja against Yahaya Bello.
In the charge filed at the Federal High Court 9, with charge FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, dated March 9, 2024 has Yahaya Adoza Bello as the sole Defendant while the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant
The EFCC in the charge SaharaReporters obtained, accused the ex-governor of conversion of a total of N80,246,470,089.88 being funds belonging to Kogi State government in February 2016 to himself, an offence which is contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
Bello was also accused of indirectly procured one Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu to use the sum of N950 million being a proceed of crime for the acquisition of a property lying, being and situate at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
On April 17, operatives of the anti-graft agency had laid siege on his Abuja house, but was later rescued by Governor Ahmed Ododo.
Shortly after, a Kogi State Court restrained EFCC from arresting Bello while delivering judgement in a fundamental human rights suit brought against the anti-graft agency.
Within the same time, another court, a Federal High Court presided by Justice Emeka Nwite issued an order of immediate arrest of Bello for the purpose of arraigning him before the court on April 18.
Consequent upon his disappearance and refusal to show up for his trial, the EFCC declared him wanted and wrote to all the security agencies including Immigration Service to place him on their watchlist to prevent him from escaping from the country.