Operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly attempted to arrest former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello at the Kogi Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, on Wednesday night.
According to the media office of the former governor, the EFCC agents stormed the premises and fired shots into the air in a bid to apprehend Bello.
In a statement released by Ohiare Michael, the Media Director for Bello, it was alleged that the EFCC’s actions were unnecessary and aggressive.
“It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the EFCC are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro, in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically,” the statement read.
Michael revealed that earlier in the day, Yahaya Bello had voluntarily visited the EFCC office for questioning, but he was asked to leave and return at a later time.
“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 later that night,” the statement continued.
Bello’s media team condemned the EFCC’s actions, accusing the anti-corruption agency of acting with unnecessary force. They also expressed concerns about the safety of the former governor.
“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him,” the statement said.
The media team further accused the EFCC of turning its anti-corruption mission into a political battle.
“This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they are fighting political battles instead of fulfilling their mandate to fight corruption. This action reflects much more than the fight against corruption,” the statement noted.
In addition to the incident at the lodge, it was reported that the EFCC had filed a 19-count charge against Yahaya Bello, accusing him of money laundering. The charges are being brought before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Despite these developments, the former governor’s team insists that he is ready to cooperate with the EFCC and has already made himself available for questioning.