April 19, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and other security agencies to place Yahaya Bello, a former Governor of Kogi State, on watch list to prevent him from leaving the country “through any land, air or sea borders.”
According to a report by SaharaReporters, the anti-graft agency’s directive was disclosed in an internal circular of the NIS to its area and zonal commands.
It reads: “VERY URGENT PLEASE!!! I am directed to request you to place the above-named subject on watch list with immediate effect. Subject has resisted arrest and arraignment, therefore, he may run out of the country any time. Please accept the assurances of the CGIS’s warmest regards and esteem.”
Copied in the circular are the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Inspector General of Police and others.
THEWILL earlier reported that the EFCC, on Thursday, declared Yahaya Bello wanted for alleged money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.
The Commission said in a bulletin that “anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest police station.”
The bulletin reads: “The public is hereby notified that YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
“Bello, 48-year-old Ebiraman, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices or through these numbers: 09-9044751-3, 08093322644, 08183322644, 07026350721-3, 0706350724-5; its e-mail address: info@efccnigeria.org or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”
THEWILL reports that the EFCC had in a 19-count charge filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accused former governor Yahaya Bello of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of about N80 billion.
Bello, who was slated for arraignment by the EFCC alongside Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-Nine Naira, Eighty-Eighty Kobo) on Thursday, April 18, failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja to kick off his arraignment.
Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu (Still at large), sometime in February 2016, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.”
Count 17 of the charges read: “That you, Yahaya Bello, between 26th July 2021 to 6th April 2022 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, aided E-Traders International Limited to conceal the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) in account number 1451458080 domiciled in Access Bank Plc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.”
Count 18 of the charges reads: “That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, sometime in November 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly procured E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330.00 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars) to account number 4266644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.”
Yahaya Bello’s foiled arraignment came on the heels of his warrant of arrest granted to the EFCC by the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
Prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), regretted that a lawful attempt to serve the defendant the charges, along with a court order of arrest, was foiled “by a person of immunity, who came and whisked him away in his car,” noting that by virtue of Section 287 of the constitution, all persons are obliged to obey a court order. Also, Section 12 of ACJA, he said, allowed law enforcement agencies to break down premises to bring unwilling defendants to justice.
Pinheiro assured that “the state will invoke all its powers within the law to ensure that the defendant is produced in court. The state will ensure that he is produced in court for the purpose of arraignment, and it is in his own interest so that he can take his plea.”
About the Author
