EFCC siege: Ododo ‘smuggles’ Yahaya Bello out amid gunshots

As 2 courts issue conflicting orders on his arrest

Sounds of gunshots rend the air as Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State departed the residence of Yahaya Bello, his predecessor, on Wednesday. Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had stormed Bello’s residence, located at Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, to arrest him over alleged fraud.

After hours of being unable to secure their mission, the security operatives were reinforced with backup support from the police and Department of State Services (DSS).

Ododo was accompanied by several security operatives and youth supporters protesting against the siege to the former governor’s home.

Dozens of operatives of the EFCC had cordoned off the street where the Abuja residence of the former governor of Kogi is.

Our correspondent, who visited the street, reports that the stern-looking operatives of the anti-graft agency did not allow movement in and out of the street.

Daily Trust understands that they were planning to forcefully arrest him before the arrival of Ododo.

Ododo, who drove into Bello’s compound around 2:45 pm, departed after a while.

However, as he was leaving, reports filtered in that Bello was in his vehicle, forcing security operatives who had been on standby for hours to open fire.

Protesters, journalists, onlookers and passers-by scampered for safety during the shootout.

The EFCC operatives retreated shortly after the sitting Governor Ododo, who paid him (Bello) a visit, departed around 4.30 pm.

Attempts to reach out to the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, proved futile as calls to his mobile phone were not answered.

He was yet to reply to a text message sent to him as at when filing this report.

Meanwhile, two courts yesterday issued conflicting orders over the move to arrest the former governor of Kogi State on money laundering allegations.

The two orders were on Wednesday issued by a Kogi State High Court in Lokoja and a Federal High Court in Abuja for and against Bello’s arrest.

In his ruling, the Kogi State High Court presided by Justice I. A. Jamil restrained the EFCC from arresting and detaining him.

However, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday issued a warrant of arrest for the arrest of the ex-governor following an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC on April 17.

In his ruling on the motion Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered the immediate arrest of Bello.

While contributing, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) argued yesterday that no court has the jurisdiction to stop his arrest and prosecution over the alleged misappropriation of N84 billion.

Earlier yesterday, the former governor raised the alarm over the siege laid to his Abuja residence by dozens of operatives of the EFCC.

Reacting to the development via a statement from his media office and emailed to Daily Trust, Bello described the EFCC’s move to arrest him as illegal, adding that it was sad the anti-graft agency was flouting the court order.