The EFCC has asked INTERPOL to put former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on a watch-list in several North African countries, including Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. The request is based on credible information and also applies to Egypt, Libya, and Sudan.
Sources from the anti-graft agency have disclosed to The Nation that they are contemplating several approaches to tackle the situation, one of which involves potentially taking action at the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where Governor Bello is suspected to be hiding.
It was revealed that Governor Bello has been placed on a watch-list in preparation for his scheduled court hearing on July 17th at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Governor Bello is confronted with a total of 19 charges, which encompass accusations of money laundering, breach of trust, and embezzlement of public funds totaling approximately N80.2 billion.
Although he vehemently denies these allegations, he has consistently failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite as per the scheduled dates in the month of June.
“Ahead of the next hearing of the case, EFCC has activated many options, including taking concrete action to watch-list Bello in North Africa. We are aware of a botched exit to Morocco via Cameroon and are determined to prevent him from fleeing into exile,” an EFCC source said.
The Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, visited Tunisia and held a meeting with INTERPOL officials from North Africa to request the placement of Governor Bello on a Red Alert. The request was approved, and the watch-listing was promptly implemented.
The source added, “We took this step because we suspect that Bello has been biding his time to avoid arraignment. We expect him to appear in court to prove his innocence. The EFCC must do its job to prevent setting a bad precedent.”
