Police, immigration tighten noose on Yahaya Bello, IGP orders withdrawal of orderlies

• NIS Officers On All Land And Air Gateways Put On Alert
• Lawyers, Others Advise Bello To Submit To EFCC

There may be no hiding place any longer for the embattled former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, as law enforcement agencies in the country seem to be tightening the noose on him.

Yesterday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the withdrawal of all police personnel attached to him. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had declared Bello wanted in connection with an alleged case of money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion, asking members of the public with useful information about his whereabouts to contact any of the commission’s offices across the country.

A police wireless message containing the order for the withdrawal of the policemen with reference number “CB:4001/DOPS/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.48/ 34, sighted by The Guardian, read in part: “IG has ordered the withdrawal of all policemen attached to His Excellency and former Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

“Acknowledge compliance and treat with utmost importance. Please, above, for your information and strict compliance.” Details of the IGP order could not be ascertained as at time of filing this report as police spokesman, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, could not take telephone calls put to him.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has also placed ex-governor Bello on its watch list. They have reportedly put officers on all land and air gateways on alert over Bello’s matter.

In a letter signed by the Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Umar Bello, the NIS also directed that if the former Kogi State governor is seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the director of investigation.

Meanwhile, lawyers have urged the ex-governor to submit himself to the EFCC for investigation as his immunity as governor has expired. One of the lawyers, Victor Ukut, said the gentlest thing for Bello to do as a former governor is to submit himself to the anti-graft agency for investigation.

“He has lost immunity as former governor. He should submit himself to EFCC for investigation. The police in the first place is wrong to have said police security with him should be withdrawn. They are supposed to have instructed the policemen attached to him to bring him to the EFCC,” Ukut said.

Similarly, renowned political economist, Prof. Anthony Kila, has said the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has shown that he understands the importance of the rule of law in a system that wants to work by intervening in the ongoing attempt by the EFCC to arrest and interrogate Bello. 

Fagbemi, in a statement, had advised the embattled former governor to “toe the path of decency.” Kila, who is the Director of Commonwealth Institute, spoke while addressing an international forum of African and Caribbean political scholars, yesterday, at a webinar organised to discuss economic and developmental opportunities in African and Caribbean countries.

He described the AGF’s intervention as timely and meaningful. “The AGF’s intervention in the matter of a former governor evading arrest by the anti-corruption agency in Nigeria is both timely and meaningful. The Minister of Justice could have buried his head in the sand or acted quietly; his public statement sends a message saying we value justice,” he said.