Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is currently in detention at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) holding facilities in Abuja, following his arrest on Tuesday. This development marks a significant turn in a months-long saga involving allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption amounting to over N110 billion.
Bello, who has been a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, was declared wanted by the EFCC in April after evading multiple arrest attempts. The commission had initially filed 19 charges against him, his nephews Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offenses.
These charges included the alleged acquisition of 12 properties in Abuja, purchased with illicit funds. However, the charges were later revised in September, reducing the count to 16 while the total sum allegedly laundered increased to over N110 billion.
The charges against Bello and his co-defendants include violations of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria, specifically related to criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust. Despite these serious charges, the former governor had been successfully evading prosecution, using legal maneuvers to delay his arraignment.
In a series of legal moves, Bello had sought to halt his trial by filing an application before Justice Emeka Nwite in July, which was rejected. He also appealed the decision, but his plea was dismissed by a three-member panel at the Court of Appeal on August 20. The panel ordered Bello to surrender for trial, but his legal and political maneuvers continued to delay proceedings.
One of the most controversial moments occurred in April when the EFCC attempted to arrest Bello at his Abuja residence. Reports indicated that Bello’s successor, Usman Ododo, played a key role in facilitating his escape from the EFCC operatives during a standoff. Despite efforts by the police and Department of State Services (DSS) to secure the arrest, the former governor evaded capture, reportedly escaping in a vehicle shortly before EFCC agents opened fire in a standoff.
In subsequent months, the EFCC struggled to bring Bello to trial. In September, he reportedly evaded arrest again, this time with the assistance of Ododo. While Bello’s media team claimed that he voluntarily visited the EFCC headquarters and was allowed to leave without being interrogated, the EFCC maintained that he remained a fugitive.
The long-running legal battle saw another twist on October 3 when Justice Maryanne Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory issued a public summons for Bello to appear in court. The summons was extended after he failed to appear on October 24, with a final deadline set for November 27. The case involves fresh charges of criminal breach of trust, with the EFCC accusing him of misappropriating over N110 billion.
Bello’s detention on Tuesday, November 26, was confirmed by multiple EFCC sources, who disclosed that the former governor was apprehended at around 12:59 pm. After being taken into custody, Bello was interrogated for several hours by EFCC investigators. According to an anonymous EFCC official, he was accompanied by three lawyers during the process. The investigation is ongoing, and sources indicate that he is likely to be arraigned in court on Wednesday.
The EFCC’s legal team had sought a delay in the trial until November 27, citing ongoing procedural issues, but now that Bello has been arrested, the commission is expected to proceed with his arraignment. The EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, was unavailable for comment at the time of this report.
Bello’s media office, led by Director Michael Ohaire, has not responded to requests for comment regarding the latest developments.
