The former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, reportedly visited EFCC commission on Wednesday, September 18, but was reportedly turned back because he came in a convoy with a sitting governor.
The Nation reports that a source in the commission who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Chairman of the Commission rejected the method in which Bello surrendered himself as it breeched the protocols of the commission.
‘’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.”
Recall that on Wednesday, Bello’s media team released a statement on his X handle announcing he had honored the EFCC invitation months after he was declared wanted for misappropriation of state funds to the tune of N80 billion,
The EFCC later released a statement denying the claim. The commission said Bello is not in their custody and remains a wanted person.
