Yahaya Bello: EFCC warns against obstruction of operations

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned members of the public that it is a criminal offense to obstruct its officers from carrying out their lawful duties.

The warning comes after Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi State, “rescued” Yahaya Bello, his predecessor, from the siege of the commission in Abuja on Wednesday.

Chronicle NG reports that operatives of the EFCC had earlier restricted movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

However, after a few hours, Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.

Following the development, Dele Oyewale, Head Media & Publicity, of the Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, mentioned that the commission “will no longer tolerate obstruction of” their operations.

He added that culprits would henceforth be prosecuted, and they stand a possible jail term of “not less than five years” when found guilty.

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The statement reads, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission wishes to warn members of the public that it is a criminal offense to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

“Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offense to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

“This warning becomes necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their own hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.

“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order. Regrettably, such a disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organization to obstruct its operation, as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions.”

Yahaya Bello: EFCC warns against obstruction of operations

Security men open fire to arrest Yahya Bello at Abuja residence

There were gunshots on Wednesday in Abuja when Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State was leaving the residence of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.
Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had laid siege to Bello’s residence located at Wuse Zone 4, to arrest him in connection with a fraud case.

The security operatives had to call for reinforcement with backup from the police and Department of State Services (DSS) when it was becoming clear their mission would not be actualised after many hours.

The plan was to forcefully arrest the former governor as they cordoned off the residence on Benghazi Street.

They allowed Ododo into the residence. But by time he drove out, there were hints that Bello was in the car with tinted glass.

This made the security operatives to open fire.

The EFCC, in a statement later by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, warned that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

“Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

“Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years,” it stated.

BREAKING: EFCC operatives storm ex-Gov Yahaya Bello’s Abuja residence over N84bn fraud case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has barricaded the house of Yahaya Bello, the immediate former governor of Kogi State, in Wuse, Abuja.

According to SaharaReporters, the EFCC siege is coming days after the former governor held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, at the State House.

It was gathered that there is currently no movement in and around the house located at Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4 in the nation’s federal capital.

On Wednesday, a top source shared the photograph showing how operatives of the EFCC barricaded the access road to the Bello’s house.

The source said: “EFCC barricades Bello’ house in Abuja. No movement in the area as EFCC barricaded the house. They are yet to gain access.”

Although there was no immediate information available to the reason while the anti-graft agency stormed the former governor’s residence, it may be connected with the N84 billion fraud case against him which the EFCC is prosecuting.

The EFCC had charged the former governor with financial fraud to the tune of N84 billion.

The anti-graft commission in an amended charge, accused Bello of diverting N80 billion of state funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed office.

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Recall that the EFCC had arraigned Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for alleged money laundering to the tune of N10 billion belonging to the State government.

The State Government faulted the charge describing it as “ridiculous” and “laughable”, argued that it is impossible, as the former governor was not yet in a position to access or misappropriate state funds at said time.

The state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, had on February 7, 2024, accused the EFCC of being “infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of ‘Mr. President’ to defeat corruption in Nigeria.”

Recall that the EFCC had dragged former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for alleged N84 billion money laundering.

EFCC, which joined Bello’s nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu as co-accused, had said it is prosecuting them on an amended 17-count charge of money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of fund to tune of N84, 062,406,089.88.

The anti-graft agency had claimed in the amended charge that former governor Bello is still at large.

Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, Yahaya Adoza Bello (still at large) and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large), sometime in September, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(b) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended,” the EFCC said.

“While ex-Governor Yahaya Bello and Hudu are still at large, Ali Bello and Suleiman, first and second defendants respectively, who were present in court “pleaded not guilty” to all the charges when they were read to them.

BREAKING: EFCC operatives storm ex-Gov Yahaya Bello’s Abuja residence over N84bn fraud case