Ex Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello, Planning To Go On Exile, To Escape Justice, EFCC Alleges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello is planning to go on exile and has therefore requested INTERPOL to watch-list him in three North African countries: Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.
According to EFCC sources, there is credible intelligence report about such plan and that various strategies are being considered to address the situation, including the possibility of storming the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where he is alleged to be hiding.
Sources within the anti-graft agency hinted that the watch-listing has been activated in anticipation of Yahaya Bello’s expected court appearance on July 17th before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
An EFCC source said: “ahead of the next hearing of the case, EFCC has activated many options, including taking concrete action to watch-list Bello in North Africa. We are aware of a botched exit to Morocco via Cameroon and are determined to prevent him from fleeing into exile.”
The EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, was recently in Tunisia, where he met with Heads of INTERPOL in North Africa to request Bello’s placement on a Red Alert. The request was accepted, and the watch listing took immediate effect.
“We took this step because we suspect that Bello has been biding his time to avoid arraignment. We expect him to appear in court to prove his innocence. The EFCC must do its job to prevent setting a bad precedent.”
Yahaya Bello is facing a 19-counts charge, including allegations of money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds amounting to about N80.2 billion.
Despite denying the allegations, he has repeatedly failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite on scheduled dates in June.
Source: The Nation