Police Detain Yahaya Bello’s ADC, Security
The Nigeria Police Force has apprehended a female police officer serving as the aide-de-camp to the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The ADC, along with other police officers assigned to 48-year-old Bello, has been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Their detention follows an order issued on Thursday night by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, instructing their immediate withdrawal from the former governor.
According to senior police sources who spoke anonymously to our correspondent, the officers are suspected of aiding and abetting Bello’s evasion of operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who attempted to arrest him at his Abuja residence on Wednesday.
“The ADC and the other police details attached to Yahaya Bello have been arrested and detained.
“They were arrested on the order of the IG, on the suspicion that they aided and abetted the former governor’s escape from the EFCC on Wednesday,” one of the sources told our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Friday.
Another source said, “Yahaya Bello’s female ADC and other police officers attached to him were brought to the command this morning, and they’ve been detained for aiding and abetting (the governor’s escape).”
READ ALSO: Labour Party Running Mate in Edo: The Defining Issues
On Thursday night, Egbetokun issued a directive for the removal of all police officers assigned to Bello.
This withdrawal order was conveyed through a police wireless message observed by our correspondent on Friday morning.
The document read, “CB:4001/DOPS/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.48/ 34 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X FOLLOWING MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM NIGPOL.
“DOPS ABUJA X BEGINS X CB:4001/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.21/462 DTO:180955/04/2024 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X REF MYLET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/36 DATED 15/04/2024 X AND MY EARLIER LET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/30 DATED 24/01/2024 X Nigeria police have ordered the withdrawal of all men.
“Police attached to His Excellency and former Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, should acknowledge compliance and treat with utmost importance. Please above for your information and strict compliance.”
The same night, the Federal Government placed Bello under surveillance. According to a document obtained solely by our correspondent, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service disclosed that Bello was added to the watchlist for his involvement in conspiracy, breach of trust, and money laundering.
The document, signed by the Assistant Comptroller General, was circulated to the Nigeria Customs Service, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, and the Director of the National Internet Agency.
The document read, “I am directed to inform you that the above-named person has been placed on a watch list. Suffice to mention that the subject is being prosecuted before the Federal High Court Abuja for Conspiracy, Breach of Trust and Money Laundering vide letter Ref; CR; 3000/EFCC/LS/EGCS.1/TE/V 1/279 dated April 18, 2024.
“If seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation, or contact 08036226329/07039617304 for further action.
“Please, accept as always the Comptroller-General’s warmest regards and esteem.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission previously announced Bello as a wanted individual for his involvement in laundering the sum of N80,246,470,088.88.
This information was shared via a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page, accompanied by a snapshot of the former governor under scrutiny.
The notice read, “The public is hereby notified that Yahaya Adoza Bello (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
“Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission.”
Bello, the embattled former governor, failed to make his scheduled appearance before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, following his arraignment by the EFCC. Alongside three other suspects—Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu—Bello was arraigned in absentia on 19 counts of money laundering.
Earlier, it was reported that the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, intervened to help his predecessor, Bello, escape arrest by EFCC operatives on Wednesday. Witnesses observed Ododo’s arrival at the ex-governor’s residence around 2:30 pm, accompanied by heavy security. At precisely 4:20 pm, Ododo’s convoy departed with Bello in the governor’s vehicle.
Approximately 10 minutes after their departure, the EFCC operatives, who had been besieging Bello’s home, withdrew from the scene. Twenty minutes later, the police, DSS operatives, Counter Terrorism Unit personnel, and other security agents guarding Bello’s residence also departed.
Twenty minutes after the EFCC operatives left, the police, DSS agents, Counter Terrorism Unit personnel, and other security personnel stationed at Bello’s residence also departed.
In a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale said, “Bello’s arraignment is coming on the heels of a warrant of arrest and enrollment order granted the EFCC by the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.”
(PUNCH)
