Kogi Fraud: Drama As EFCC Places Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello on INTERPOL Watch List

• Yahaya Bello’s non-appearance in court for trial has sparked serious concern in the polity and informed the latest move by the EFCC
• The anti-graft agency requested INTERPOL to watchlist Yahaya Bello across North Africa as Bello evades local arrest
• TheTalk.NG reported that Bello is facing a 19-count charge for alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds of about N80.2billion

TheTalk.NG journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements

Tension mounts in the polity as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asked INTERPOL in the three North African countries of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria to place the former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello on its watch list.

EFCC takes strong acton against former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello.
Photo credit: EFCC, Alhaji Yahaya BelloSource: Facebook

It was gathered that the EFCC’s decision to allow the countries to place Bello on their watch list was based on credible intelligence.

As reported by The Nation, Egypt, Libya, and Sudan are other countries where the ex-governor is placed on the watch list.

EFCC to storm Bello’s hiding place in Kogi

As reported by Leadership, sources in the anti-graft agency said many option are on the table in dealing with the Bello situation, which include but not limited to storming the Kogi state Government House in Lokoja, where the ex-governor is believed to be hiding.

The watch-list was activated ahead of the July 17th expected appearance of the former governor before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

This came days after the EFCC requested the Federal High Court in Abuja to prosecute the two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) defending Yahaya Bello, for alleged professional misconduct and contempt of court.

Yahaya Bello seeks transfer of EFCC’s case to Kogi

Earlier, TheTalk.NG reported that Yahaya Bello requested that the case the EFCC was pursuing against him be transferred to the state.

On Thursday, June 27, Bello said considering he was alleged to have committed the offence when he was the governor of the state, it was proper for the matter to be treated in Kogi.

This was after the EFCC asked all security agencies to place Bello on their watch list to prevent him from leaving the country “through any land, air or sea borders.”

Source: TheTalk.NG

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