The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello indeed showed up at its office but was not interrogated.
Bello is being wanted by the EFCC over alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
After five months of running, he finally showed up at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters, ready for questioning.
The EFCC, however, rejected the method by which he reported to the commission because he was with accompanied by his successor, Usman Ododo and other dignitaries.
According to the anti-graft agency, this method violated its invitation protocol.
Despite Bello’s presence, EFCC did not attend to him.
A source told The Nation: “Upon realising that Bello came with the governor and some dignitaries, the Executive Chairman directed that no official should attend to him.
“His manner of coming to EFCC was a breach of our protocol. No Nigerian, no matter how highly placed, is expected to come for an invitation in a convoy of vehicles and with a sitting governor.
“To the EFCC, he came with grandeur which is contrary to our procedures.
“There are stages of documentation which Bello skipped because he was with the governor who has immunity.
“The EFCC also did not invite the governor. So, what was the basis for accompanying Bello to our headquarters in Abuja?
“We have not been comfortable with the roles of the governor in this case.
“After fulfilling all procedures of documentation, Bello was expected to come with his lawyer(s) and not a governor or Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).
“We cannot be intimidated or subject our system to political pollution.
“This made the Executive Chairman of EFCC to direct that no official should attend to Bello. He must undergo due process like every invitee.
“The commission was unhappy with the pre-emptive propaganda in the media by Bello’s team which had created false impressions.
“There was a narration that the ex-governor was already in EFCC’s custody but he’s not here. He’s still being wanted.
“As long as Bello does not conform with our protocol, our operatives will arrest him. We are still looking for him.”
On Wednesday night, EFCC operatives reportedly laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to arrest Bello, while shooting sporadically.
“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him,” Bello’s media office said.
