Indications have emerged that following the Red Notice recently issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for his arrest in different parts of the world, the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello may be in deeper trouble.
Bello who is believed to have since been hiding at the Kogi Government House, Lokoja, is said to be in a serious dilemma as regards the best step to take with regard to his running battle with the EFCC.
The former governor has been in the “protective custody” of the Kogi State Government since the anti-graft agency declared him wanted.
He has been enjoying protection from the security agents attached to his successor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, since the aborted attempt by the EFCC to arrest him.
EFCC issued a Red Notice on Bello to the International Police Organisation, popularly known as Interpol, based on the warrant of arrest issued by an Abuja Federal High Court.
A Red Notice is a request issued to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or surrender.
The implication of the Red Notice is that Bello can now be arrested in any part of the world he’s found with the exception of Micronesia, North Korea, Palau and Tuvalu, which are not members of Interpol.
BOTCHED ARREST, 19-COUNT CHARGE
In April, EFCC declared Bello wanted over alleged N80 billion fraud.
Before then, some EFCC operatives had stormed his Abuja residence to arrest him.
But during the siege on Bello’s Abuja residence, Ododo suddenly arrived in his house and he was alleged to have helped the former governor evade arrest by allegedly ferrying him in his convoy.
Reacting to the incident, Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation, warned anyone against obstructing the EFCC in the discharge of its operations.
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) also later placed Bello on a watchlist while the police headquarters ordered the withdrawal of its personnel attached to him.
EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede later alleged that Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi State treasury to pay his child’s school fees in advance.
The Commission also filed a 19-count charge against him over alleged money laundering.
But his arraignment was stalled as his whereabouts couldn’t be ascertained.
In May, Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel to Bello, told the court that the former governor’s whereabouts remain unknown and that he was nurturing some safety concerns.
EFCC had recently requested Interpol in three North African countries — Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria — to add Bello to their watchlist.
Following the issuance of the latest Red Notice, it has now become risky for Bello to visit virtually any country.
Source: TheCable, except the headline
