September 19, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday night, allegedly laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to arrest former governor Yahaya Bello.
Bello’s Media Office Director, Ohiare Michael, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday night, alleged that operatives of the EFCC shot sporadically in the air in the bid to arrest the former governor.
“It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically.
“It was reported earlier that the former Governor went to the EFCC office voluntarily earlier today but the commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount a Gestapo-like attack on the Kogi State Government facility in Asokoro.
“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him.
“Tonight’s attack was needless as the former governor made himself available to the EFCC in their office for interrogation. The EFCC had no question to ask Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they were out to arrest him.
“This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they were fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption. This action reflects much more than the fight against corruption,” he said.
Earlier, the anti-graft agency denied the claim that Bello had visited its headquarters in Abuja early on Wednesday, to honour its invitation.
Spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, declared in a statement that Bello remains on its wanted list with a subsisting warrant of arrest.
The EFCC had filed a 19-count money laundering charge involving alleged N80.2 billion fraud against Bello before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case is expected to resume on September 26 at the court.
