EFCC apprehends former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello

Months after he was listed as wanted, agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have finally detained former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on suspicion of embezzlement.

Despite conflicting reports regarding the arrest process, Ripples Nigeria learned that Bello was taken to the anti-graft agency’s Abuja office on Tuesday morning by Usman Ododo, the state governor, capping months of eluding arrest and an official standoff. He is currently being interrogated by commission agents.

His visit to the commission comes after the Supreme Court ruled against the states’ argument over the anti-graft agency’s constitutionality.
Bello’s detention follows the Supreme Court’s decision to reject a lawsuit filed by several states contesting the anti-graft agency’s legitimacy to investigate former governors and administrations.

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Bello’s arrest also comes after a hearing on November 14 in which the EFCC requested an extension till November 27 in a new lawsuit it had filed against him. The suit had a 30-day window for Bello to make arrangements in response to the summons.

The EFCC had requested an adjournment until Wednesday, November 27 during the most recent hearing on the new allegations brought against the former governor before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Maitama in Abuja.