JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
EFCC calls on Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and others to put Yahaya Bello on watch list
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked INTERPOL in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Algeria to place former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello on its watch list.
The Nation reports that the anti-corruption agency made the decision based on credible information. Sources in the agency said there are many options on the table to handle the Bello situation, including but not limited to storming the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where the former governor is believed to be hiding.
The watch list was activated ahead of the former governor’s scheduled July 17 appearance before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Bello is facing a 19-count indictment for alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds amounting to about N80.2 billion. Although the former governor denied the charge, he failed to appear before the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, on June 13 and 27.
At the last hearing, he filed a request to transfer his case to the Federal High Court in Lokoja. “Ahead of the next hearing of the case, the EFCC has activated many options, including taking concrete action to put Bello on the watch list in North Africa. We are aware of a failed exit to Morocco via Cameroon. We are determined to prevent him from going into exile. From Singapore, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, was in Tunisia where he presented a paper at a session on illicit financial flows.
He then had a meeting with all INTERPOL officials in North Africa regarding intelligence on the former governor. He formally requested INTERPOL to put Bello on red alert in all countries in North Africa and the request was accepted. The watch list went into effect immediately. He will be arrested anywhere in North Africa. We have taken this decision because we suspect he has asked for time to not be available for the preliminary hearing. We expect Bello to appear in court to prove his innocence. The EFCC must do its job to avoid a bad precedent.”
