Yahaya Bello, the embattled former Kogi State governor was on Wednesday smuggled to Lokoja, the state capital by its governor, Usman Ododo.
SaharaReporters earlier on Wednesday reported that shots were fired as Ododo smuggled the former governor out of the latter’s house in Abuja, with the help of a retinue of policemen.
Personnel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had laid siege to Bello’s residence in Abuja to arrest him, but Ododo later arrived at the house with policemen who assisted him in whisking Bello away in his (Ododo’s) official vehicle.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the former governor was taken to Lokoja, where they believe he can be well protected using state apparatus and resources.
“After Governor Ododo whisked Yahaya Bello away with the help of policemen, he was subsequently smuggled to Lokoja,” one of the security sources told SaharaReporters on Wednesday evening.
A security source earlier told SaharaReporters that “Ododo, aka Married Woman, escaped with Yahaya Bello,” adding that there was a “serious gun battle in Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4 in Abuja”.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that policemen attached to Governor Ododo on Wednesday prevented the EFCC personnel from arresting Yahaya Bello despite that officials of the agency had barricaded Bello’s house in Wuse, Abuja.
According to the sources, there would have been a bloody clash if the EFCC officials had gone head-to-head with the policemen.
“The Inspector General of Police reportedly gave Yahaya Bello more reinforcement through Governor Ododo to thwart his arrest.
“But we’re trying to avoid a bloody clash,” one of the sources said.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the EFCC was able to track Bello to Abuja by outsmarting him.
It was learnt that Bello had deliberately left his mobile phone at the Government House in Lokoja and used his aide’s phone to avoid being tracked to Abuja not knowing that EFCC operatives were already tracking the mobile phone of the aide.
Through his aide’s mobile phone, the former governor was tracked to where he was holed up in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has warned members of the public against preventing its officers from carrying out their lawful duties.
The commission said it is a criminal offence to obstruct or prevent personnel from conducting their lawful duties, citing section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act. According to the agency, culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
It also reported that there were gunshots as the policemen with the Kogi governor prevented the EFCC personnel from arresting the embattled former governor, Bello. Ododo subsequently whisked Bello out of the area in his official vehicle.
The Commission in a statement on Wednesday evening titled: “We Will No Longer Tolerate Obstruction of Our Operations,” and signed by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said that the warning was necessary due to the increasing tendency of some persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
The statement reads, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission wishes to warn members of the public 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.
“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 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 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 organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions.”
In another statement on Wednesday, the agency said, “The Commission’s attempt to execute the Warrant of Arrest lawfully obtained against Bello met stiff resistance on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
“The security cordon around the former governor’s residence in Abuja was breached by the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo who ensured that the suspect was spirited away in his official vehicle.
“As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
“It is needful to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible.”
