UPDATE; EFCC Operatives Lay Siege To Abuja Kogi Govt Lodge To Arrest Former Gov. Bello

***After Visiting Commission’s Office

Despite voluntary visit of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to the office of the Eco­nomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) earlier on Wednesday, the anti-graft agen­cy officials Wednesday night laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja to forcefully ar­rest the former governor.

A statement signed by Ohiare Michael, Director, Media, Office of the former Governor, reads, “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.

“It was reported earlier that the former governor went to the EFCC office voluntarily earlier today (Wednesday) but the commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount a gestapo-like attack on the Kogi State govern­ment facility in Asokoro.

“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held ac­countable if anything untoward happens to him.

“Tonight’s attack was needless as the former governor made him­self available to the EFCC in their office for interrogation. The EFCC had no question to ask Alh. Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they are out to arrest him.

“This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they were fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption. This action reflects much more than the fight against corruption. We will keep Nigeri­ans posted,” Ohiare stated.

Ohiare had earlier issued a statement that Alh. Yahaya Bel­lo voluntarily visited the EFCC office to honour the anti-graft’s invitation but the commission asked him to leave without any interrogation.

He had stated, “We reiterated the former governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, and stressed that, all the while, he only sought the enforce­ment of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.

“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, HE Al­haji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.

“Recall that the case has been before a competent court of juris­diction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. The former governor decided to hon­our the invitation to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and noth­ing to fear.”