Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) finally arrested former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello yesterday.
Bello is now in the slammer of the anti-graft agency over alleged misappropriation of funds while in office.
His appearance at the Commission yesterday represents an icing in the cake for the erstwhile runaway governor who had earlier been declared wanted months ago.
However, there were contradictory reports on the manner of the arrest.
It was however, gathered from a source that the former governor was brought to the Abuja office of the EFCC yesterday morning by state governor, Usman Ododo.
That ended months of evading arrest and an official stand off by the ex-Kogi State helmsman, who is currently being grilled by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
Another report had it that Bello voluntarily ‘visited’ the agency. But this claim was denied by the EFCC officials who insisted that Bello was arrested; he neither surrendered, nor escorted by Governor Ododo.
No matter, his visit or arrest and eventual detention yesterday by the commission followed a Supreme Court judgment which dismissed states’ case on the constitutionality of the EFCC.
Bello’s arrest is sequel to a ruling by the Supreme Court dismissing a suit by some states questioning the constitutionality of the anti-graft agency to probe past governors and administrations.
His arrest also follows a hearing on November 14, where the EFCC had sought for an adjournment till November 27, in a fresh suit it instituted against Bello, which had a 30-day window for his rearraignment running for the summons earlier issued.
At the last hearing on the fresh charges preferred against the former governor before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, the EFCC had sought for an adjournment to Wednesday, November 27.
Confirming Bello’s arrest yesterday, EFCC’s Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Bello was ‘arrested’ by the Commission’s chief security officer.
“It is true that we have him in our custody. The operatives of the Commission arrested him,” Oyewale said.
