Nigerians woke up to an unusual news by the media office of former Governor Yahaya Bello on Wednesday that he had surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The news brought some kind of respite to many observers who have followed the hide-and-seek game between the anti-graft body and the man popularly called the “White Lion”.
In a terse message, the director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, Michael Ohiare, said, “Alhaji Yahaya Bello today honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team, and political allies. The former governor, who has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had all the while only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process.”
Crossfire Over Visit
In a rebuttal to the claim by the Bello media minders, the EFCC insisted that the former governor was not in its custody. According to the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, “Media reports today that a former governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello, is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are incorrect. The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody. Bello, who has already been declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
Shortly after the refutation of the former governor’s visit to the headquarters of the anti-graft agency, the Bello Media Office maintained that their principal was at the EFCC headquarters and that the commission had declined to interrogate him.
The crossfire claims gathered momentum as pictures of the former governor’s gained tremendous traction on several social media platforms, with many insinuating that the anti-graft commission has a lot to explain on how and why a high-profile suspect was allowed to escape.
Observers were baffled when Bello’s media team disclosed that the former governor was asked to return home as he had no case to answer. Looking at the picture of the visit by Bello who was in company with his successor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, operatives of the anti-graft agency may have been caught off-guard.
Stunt Gone Awry
From what followed after Bello’s visit to the EFCC, the Wednesday episode only unleashed a moment of embarrassment on the commission. After the declaration of the “White Lion” as a wanted man, there has been no love lost between the anti-graft agency and the former governor. Matters became worse when efforts by the EFCC operatives to arrest Bello in his Abuja home were frustrated when Governor Ododo came to the rescue of his former boss who was billed to be arraigned before the court on allegations of N80 billion laundering charges.
One would have expected that 24 hours after his visit to the EFCC headquarters, the former governor should have repeated his visit to the commission. Over 48 hours after he stunned Nigerians that he had finally surrendered to the EFCC, the man who contested against Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket still remains in hiding. With Ododo shielding him from arrest, the possibility of Bello having his day in court is now diminished and prolonged.
Needless Howl
The outcome of the confusion caused by the failed showmanship of Bello has manifested in the engagement of voices and groups calling for the resignation of the EFCC chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede. Should the EFCC boss be forced to resign because he has been unable to arrest Bello who is under the immunity of his godson, Ododo? The towering shadows of the Kogi governor over his predecessor remains the solid munition for Bello. Insiders in Kogi State are apprehensive that there exists a conspiracy that has made it extremely impossible to bring Bello to face the full wrath of the law.
When before the end of his tenure as governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose was told the anti-graft body was planning to pick him up over sundry allegations, he plotted his exit and showed up at the EFCC headquarters, wearing a shirt bearing the inscription, “EFCC, here I am!” What stops the former Kogi helmsman from repeating the Fayose drama?
We have seen groups coming out to call for the resignation of Olukoyede. What can end this hide-and-seek game between Bello and the EFCC is for Ododo’s predecessor to surrender to the commission in preparation of having his day in court. This is not the first time, and won’t be the last time, a former governor would be asked to be interrogated by the EFCC. Averting arrest by Bello gives the impression that he has something to hide. He should prove the anti-graft agency wrong and repeat his visit to the EFCC, but this time unaccompanied by his successor to clear all doubts.
For now, Bello can only run but can’t hide. He would soon discover that the only option left is to surrender to the EFCC. The “White Lion” must be prepared to come clean on how Kogi State was administered under his watch.
