N80.2 billion drama: Where is Yahaya Bello
Richard Elesho
Interesting times are here in Kogi State. For more than a week now, and still counting different groups have been on a competitive parade in its streets. The groups, some of which at best are amorphous, have been trying to out-wit one another calling out the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and undermining its efforts to bring the immediate past governor, Yahaya Bello, to book over grey areas of his eight year stewardship. Indeed, there have been no dull moments in the state’s political atmospherics since Wednesday, 18 September. Women, students, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, and such other groups of easy prey that come under the general characterisation of concerned citizens, have served their time on the protest stage against the EFCC.
In a seemingly shocking throwback to the judgement throne of Pontius Pilate, the fifth governor of the Roman Province of Judea, as he considered the contrived petition of the Jewish priestly class against Jesus the Rabbi and request for the exercise of prerogative of mercy in favour of Barabas, a condemned criminal, Bello’s supporters demanded his release from probe and the sack of Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC boss, perceived as a tool in the hands of his political enemies. In fact, the women, during their protest, threatened to go unclad in their next outing if confirmation of their request tarries.
To be sure, the EFCC and Bello, aka the White Lion, have been at loggerheads for eight months over the latter’s reluctance to submit to the anti-graft agency for interrogation and investigation. The former governor has spent more time in hiding and self-isolation than in freedom since 27 January, when he left office.
However, that Wednesday, the narratives changed. This was how. Bello, who bears the burden of a warrant of arrest and the tag of a fugitive, walked to the territory of his traducers and those who declared him wanted. He was accompanied to the EFCC headquarters by his kinsman and successor, Ododo Ahmed Usman, and other ‘high-profile Nigerians,’ according to a statement from his media office signed by Michael Ohiare.
Social and traditional media platforms feasted on the story, interpreting it as a surrender. By the way, and quickly too, one of the former governor’s stooges quarrelled with the use of the word surrender to describe the visit, explaining that such was beneath the dignity of a lion. “The lion does not surrender,” he insisted.
He could not have been more correct. With news of Bello’s visit going viral, the EFCC promptly issued a tarse statement clarifying that the former governor was not in its custody and that he remained a wanted suspect in an N80.2 billion corruption case.
In response, Bello’s media office supplied details and photographs of the disputed visit. According to them, Bello stayed for several hours on the premises of the commission without attention. “The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office.” Ohiare explained in a follow-up statement.
A school of thought attributed EFCC’s poor handling of the visit to the effects of spiritual forces through prayers, juju, or pure magic. Sangotunde Aliu, in a comment, argued that the reaction of the agency was not natural. “When somebody you have been looking for appears around you, the natural thing to do is grab him, but. the more you look, the less you see in matters like this.” He added.
Wednesdays seem to enjoy special fascination in the diary of the imbroglio. The first face-off between the law enforcement agents and Bello happened on Wednesday, 17 April. That was when detectives laid siege on Bello’s residence, 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Abuja, in an unsuccessful effort to effect his arrest. In that prelude, Ododo showed up to frustrate the plot by whisking his troubled predecessor away in his convoy. Further checks revealed that the warrant of arrest against Bello was granted on Wednesday, same as the order granting him protection from arrest by a state High Court.
Nigerians were still at a loss over the claims and counter-claims when the theatrics moved to another stage. As darkness began to envelop the day, the same Wednesday, Bello’s team raised the alarm over a gestapo-like attack on Kogi Governor’s Lodge at Asokoro, Abuja.
“It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro, in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically…We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him.”
The Kogi State House of Assembly joined the cacophony. In its plenary on Monday, 23 September, the House accused the EFCC of an assassination
attempt on Ododo and Bello in addition to describing it as an attack on the good people of Kogi State. The lawmakers, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to wield the big stick against the EFCC Boss.
Reading the resolutions, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Yusuf said the House had resolved to call on Mr. President to immediately sack the EFCC Boss because of his attack on Kogi’s symbol of authority.
“It was disrespectful and dangerous for EFCC operatives to be firing shots around the incumbent governor. It was an attack on the Kogi people and must be condemned by all. We are not saying they should not fight corruption. But what we are witnessing here is a witch-hunt and an attempt on the lives of the leaders of the State.”
Two days after the assembly’s medllesome resolutions, and exactly one week after the controversial EFCC visit, another scene of the N80.2 drama script was acted in the Federal High Court, Abuja. For the upteenth time, Bello did not come for his arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite. Instead, his lawyer, A.M Adoyi, told the court that his client had filed an appeal against the warrant of arrest in the Supreme Court, the nation’s highest temple of justice. He tendered an affidavit dated September 23 to justify the information and requested that the court stay action pending the determination of the apex court.
A livid counsel for the EFCC and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, however, told the court that the defendant’s counsels were turning the court into an entertainment arena, urging the court to demonstrate its coercive power on him. He recalled that a similar action had been dismissed by the Court of Appeal in August with a warning that
“The appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself. But they took another step.”
Meanwhile, as the argument over Bello’s attitude persisted, the EFCC slammed new charges against him, accusing the embattled politician of N110bn fraud.
In a 19 count charge, Bello was previously accused of misappropriating N80.2 billion along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu. However, in the fresh 16 charges dated September 25, the total sum of the same money laundering offences rose to N110,446,470,89.00. Bello, Umar Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu were listed as first to third defendants.
Bello, alongside other defendants, was alleged to have bought a total of 12 houses in various locations in Abuja with the money.
After listening to the two arguments, the judge adjourned the matter to 30 October, another Wednesday for arraignment and ruling. With the new adjournment a little more than one month away, Nigerians are awaiting the next scene in the Yahaya Bello versus EFCC series.
Since escaping from that close shave with captivity, Bello’s location has been a matter of guess. While he maintains a life of solitude with little or no public company, his contacts have kept sealed lips on his hibernation point. Some people think he may be hiding in Abuja, the nation’s capital, or in Agasa, his country home. Shortly following his rescue by Ododo, the rumour mill claimed he was hiding in Ogbonicha, at the family house of former governor, late Abubakar Audu, a claim that was debunked by the family. Recently, Bello was reported to have gone on exile abroad. Another conjecture holds that he may be living in Lugard House, the Kogi State seat of power in Lokoja, or any of its lodges in Lagos, Kaduna, and Abuja.
Where exactly is the fugitive? Your guess is as intelligent as mine.