The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alerted INTERPOL over plans by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to escape from Nigeria to North African
Sources within the anti-graft agency revealed that various strategies are being considered to address the situation, including the possibility of storming the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where Bello is believed to be hiding.
According to them, the watch-listing was activated in anticipation of Bello’s expected court appearance on July 17th before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Bello faces a 19-count charge, including allegations of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds amounting to about N80.2 billion.
Despite denying the allegations, he has repeatedly failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite on scheduled dates in June.
An EFCC source stated, “Ahead of the next hearing of the case, EFCC has activated many options, including taking concrete action to watch-list Bello in North Africa. We are aware of a botched exit to Morocco via Cameroon and are determined to prevent him from fleeing into exile.”
The EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, was recently in Tunisia, where he met with Heads of INTERPOL in North Africa to request Bello’s placement on a Red Alert. The request was accepted, and the watch listing took immediate effect.
“We took this step because we suspect that Bello has been biding his time to avoid arraignment. We expect him to appear in court to prove his innocence.
