The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello indeed showed up at its office but was not interrogated.
It was learnt that EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede rejected the method of reporting to the commission.
A source told The Nation: “Upon realising that Bello came with the governor and some dignitaries, the Executive Chairman directed that no official should attend to him.
“His manner of coming to EFCC was a breach of our protocol. No Nigerian, no matter how highly placed, is expected to come for an invitation in a convoy of vehicles and with a sitting governor.
“To the EFCC, he came with grandeur which is contrary to our procedures.
“There are stages of documentation which Bello skipped because he was with the governor who has immunity.
“The EFCC also did not invite the governor. So, what was the basis for accompanying Bello to our headquarters in Abuja?
“We have not been comfortable with the roles of the governor in this case.
“After fulfilling all procedures of documentation, Bello was expected to come with his lawyer(s) and not a governor or Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).
“We cannot be intimidated or subject our system to political pollution.
“This made the Executive Chairman of EFCC to direct that no official should attend to Bello. He must undergo due process like every invitee.
“The commission was unhappy with the pre-emptive propaganda in the media by Bello’s team which had created false impressions.
“There was a narration that the ex-governor was already in EFCC’s custody but he’s not here. He’s still being wanted.
“As long as Bello does not conform with our protocol, our operatives will arrest him. We are still looking for him.”
ME:
I am still looking for the sensibility in this excuse by the EFCC.
On October 16, 2018, when Fayose reported at the EFCC office in Wuse, Abuja, the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and others were with him. Yet, he was taken into custody and detained.
In 2014, when the DSS invited El-Rufai, Amaechi who was the Governor of Rivers State and Chris Nige, a serving Senator then were among those who accompanied him.
But today, EFCC under my Ekiti brother, Ola Olukoyede is telling Nigerians that because a governor accompanied Yahaya Bello to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja yesterday, they let him leave, only to invade the Kogi State Govt House in Asokoro, Abuja, in the night, shooting sporadically, looking for the same Yahaya Bello.
Again, does it make sense that a suspect that was declared wanted by the EFCC was at the office of the commission and he was not arrested and taken into custody?
