The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, wanted over claims of financial crimes totaling N80.2 billion.
News About Nigeria reports that the commission made the notice known in a statement released to journalists on Thursday.
The EFCC has urged anyone with information on Bello’s whereabouts to contact them or the nearest police station immediately.
Bello, a 48-year-old from Okene Local Government in Kogi State, is described as an Ebira man.
Efforts were made by the operatives of the commission to apprehend Bello at his residence in Wuse Zone 4 on Wednesday.
However, Governor Ododo, his successor, arrived at his residence to show his support and eventually left with Bello despite the blockade, the EFCC said on Wednesday.
Bello served as governor from January 27, 2016, to January 27, 2024, handing over to Governor Ododo, both of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following his arrest, conflicting court orders emerged.
One from a Kogi State High Court in Lokoja barred the EFCC from arresting him, while another from the Federal High Court in Abuja authorised his arrest for arraignment.
The immediate-past governor was to be arraigned on a 19-count charge before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
Recall that in March, the EFCC named Governor Bello as a co-conspirator in alleged corrupt conduct.
This was during the re-arraignment of the ex-governor’s nephew, Ali Bello, and a co-defendant for money laundering at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The EFCC accused him of conspiring with Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdusalam Hudu in September 2015 to convert over N80 billion belonging to Kogi State to their personal use.
According to the EFCC, the former governor and Mr. Hudu remained at large.
