The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly apprehended the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, earlier today, Tuesday.
According to Tribune, his team explained that the ex-governor willingly complied with a prior invitation from the EFCC and appeared at their headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, accompanied by his legal team.
However, sources within the commission reveal that Bello was, in fact, taken into custody by EFCC operatives.
This arrest was confirmed by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who stated that Bello was arrested at 12:54 PM on Tuesday.
He declined to disclose the exact location of the arrest but clarified that the former governor is currently in their custody.
When questioned about whether Bello voluntarily presented himself to the EFCC, Oyewale replied, “Suffice to say that we arrested him at 12:54 PM, and he is in our custody right now.”
The arrest follows a public summons issued by Justice Maryanne Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on October 3.
This summons required Bello to appear in court to face 16 fresh charges, including criminal breach of trust involving over N110 billion, alongside two other individuals, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu.
Bello failed to appear for the court session scheduled for October 24, prompting an extension of the summons to November 14. At the last adjourned date, he again did not show up in court.
EFCC counsel, Jamiu Agoro, informed the court that the public summons issued to the former governor would expire on November 17, but he clarified that the summons remained valid. Agoro further argued that it would be inappropriate to proceed with the defendants’ plea while the summons was still in effect, emphasizing that Bello was expected to appear at the next court date.
If he failed to do so, the prosecution would take further action. The court then adjourned the case to tomorrow, Wednesday, November 27.
