Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has prevented officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the second time in six months from arresting his predecessor in office and political mentor, Yahaya Bello.
Bello is facing a 19-count before a Federal High Court Abuja, bordering on money laundering involving N80.2 billion.
The former governor has been evading arrest since his indictment by the EFCC, leading to declaring him wanted in Nigeria and abroad.
Attempts by the EFCC operatives to arrest him earlier in April was aborted by Governor Ododo, his predecessor, who came to Mr Bello’s residence in Abuja where he was holed up for hours and frisked him away.
The EFCC had laid siege to the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja in an attempt to apprehend Bello, on Thursday.
For the second time, Mr Ododo allegedly helped Bello avoid arrest, leveraging the immunity he enjoys as a sitting governor.
The incident came hours after a visit by Bello and Ododo to the EFCC headquarters, the commission denied having Bello in custody.
Mr Bello’s media office announced that the former governor has surrendered, with EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declaring that Bello was not detained.
Anti-graft officials revealed that Ododo’s actions prevented them from arresting Bello, stating that his governorship immunity hindered the operatives from taking further action.
