Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, following his arrest on November 27, 2024.
This marks a significant development in the case against him regarding an alleged N110 billion money laundering scandal. The former governor, who had been elusive for months, was finally apprehended after a series of failed attempts by the anti-graft agency to bring him to trial.
Bello was declared wanted by the EFCC in April 2024, after resisting multiple summons and attempts to arrest him. The charges against him, originally set at 19 counts, were later revised to 16, with the total sum allegedly laundered increasing to over N110 billion. According to the EFCC, Bello and his associates are accused of purchasing 12 properties in various locations within Abuja using illicit funds.
Bello’s legal battles have been marked by repeated attempts to avoid facing the courts. In July, he filed a motion before Justice Emeka Nwite, seeking to block his trial. The court rejected his application, but he continued his fight by appealing the decision to the Court of Appeal, which also dismissed his case in August. The panel, led by Justice Hamma Barka, ordered Bello to surrender himself for trial.
Further complicating matters, Bello’s successor, Governor Usman Ododo, allegedly intervened to prevent his arrest. During a raid at Bello’s residence in April, Ododo reportedly facilitated his escape, even driving him out of the compound as EFCC operatives attempted to arrest him. This incident, combined with reports in September that Bello had evaded arrest again with Ododo’s assistance, raised questions about possible political interference in the investigation.
On Tuesday, November 27, multiple sources within the EFCC confirmed that Bello had been arrested and detained. According to one EFCC official, the arrest was made by the commission’s Chief Security Officer around 12:59 PM. Bello was then interrogated for several hours regarding the charges against him. Three of his lawyers were present during the process.
An EFCC source confirmed that, barring any unexpected delays, the former governor is set to be arraigned in court on Wednesday, November 28. This will be his first appearance in court after several failed attempts to bring him to trial.
The latest case against Bello, filed in October 2024, includes a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust, accusing him of diverting over N110 billion. The charges, brought against Bello along with two co-defendants, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, also allege that the former governor was involved in the laundering of these funds through various illegal means.
Bello was initially summoned to appear before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on October 24, but failed to comply. The court extended the summons to November 14, but again, Bello did not appear. On that date, the EFCC sought an extension for his appearance, leading to a final summons for November 27.
EFCC officials have expressed confidence that this time, the arrest of Bello will pave the way for his long-awaited arraignment. An EFCC source remarked, “He will definitely appear in court tomorrow. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for after months of delays and evasion.”
Despite his arrest, investigations into Bello’s alleged financial crimes continue. EFCC sources suggest that more evidence may come to light as the interrogation progresses, and it remains to be seen how the case will unfold in the coming weeks.
