Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to use the military to arrest the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Operatives of the anti-graft agency on Wednesday cordoned off the residence of the former governor in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja to execute an arrest warrant.
The siege was on the heels of a warrant of arrest and enrolment order granted to the EFCC by the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo broke the siege by its operatives on his predecessor’s Abuja residence and smuggled Yahaya Bello out of the house in his official vehicle after shootouts by security agents.
Mr Bello was arraigned today (Thursday) over an N80 billion money laundering case at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to reports, the former governor may have been hiding in the Kogi State Government House under the immunity of Governor Ahmed Ododo, his successor, who is covered by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The EFCC has been hunting for Bello, to arrest him over allegations of financial mismanagement while in office as governor.
During the proceedings on Thursday, Counsel to EFCC, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the commission will drag Bello before the court to face his trial, even if it means engaging the military to get him.
He said, “We may have to invite the military to move Yahaya Bello out of where he is hiding.
“We may have to engage the military to force him out because immunity does not cover him where he is hiding.
“No one is above the law. Immunity covers only the governor and not everyone around him.”
