By Femi Macaulay

Dramatically, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is still playing hide-and-seek four months after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him wanted. EFCC had on April 18 launched a manhunt for him in connection with a case of alleged money laundering involving over N80b. The agency is charged with the responsibility of enforcing all economic and financial crimes laws in Nigeria.

He had earned the status of a fugitive following his mysterious escape from EFCC operatives who wanted to arrest him at his Abuja residence, on April 17, after obtaining an arrest warrant from the Federal High Court, Abuja. Three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, are involved in the case.

His escape was reported to have been facilitated by a group of armed men identified as ‘Special Forces’ and some policemen, as well as the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo. He remains at large.

Curiously, he spoke from his hiding place during the nationwide so-called hunger protests that turned violent in parts of the country. His media office issued a statement, on August 7, saying, “We have uncovered a high-wired plan by some disgruntled enemies of the nation and persons on the ‘Project Bring Down Yahaya Bello,’ to frame him up as one of the sponsors of the #Endbadgovernance protests across the country.”

The statement said Bello was on President Bola Tinubu’s side, adding that he “mobilised the youth of the nation as the APC Youth Mobilisation Committee Chairman, because of his faith in the leadership capacity of Mr President.”

In June, he was reported to have written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, through his lawyers, arguing that his trial should be moved from Abuja to “the Lokoja Division of the Federal High Court which is the Division with the Territorial Jurisdiction to try the case.”

According to the letter, all the funds alleged to have been laundered by Bello “are monies of the Government of Kogi State whose State Capital is in Lokoja”; all bank accounts from which the said monies are stated to be laundered from “are domiciled with the branches of the respective Banks in Lokoja, Kogi State”; and Bello is accused of “criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and money laundering in respect of the statutory funds of Kogi State.”

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, rejected his request that his case be transferred to Kogi State. He stated that “The main complaint in the case borders on the alleged conversion and transfer of funds of Kogi State to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to purchase property through acts of concealment.” He also said: “The law permits the filing of the charge either in Abuja, FCT or in Lokoja, Kogi State, the offence(s) having been allegedly partly committed in both places.”

Last month, the Federal High Court, Abuja rejected Bello’s application to halt his arraignment for money laundering. He has refused to appear in court. Apart from his non-appearance in July, he failed to show up on five previous occasions, April 18, April 23, May 10, June 13 and June 27.

His lawyer was said to have told the judge he would try to bring him to court at the next sitting. EFCC’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), told the court that the anti-graft agency was collaborating with security agencies to “extract the defendant from the Kogi State Government House where he is hibernating.”

The House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency, Kogi State, in the 2023 elections, Austin Okai, had claimed that he was hiding in Government House in Lokoja. There were also claims that the former governor had been smuggled out of the country.

His latest statement denying any connection with the anti-Tinubu protests demonstrated that going into hiding does not mean falling into silence. After serving as a two-term governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, he should make himself available for questioning concerning his years in power. Is he afraid? Why is he afraid? Should he be afraid?

Bello, 49, was the youngest governor in Nigeria throughout his tenure. He unsuccessfully participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary to choose the ruling party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 elections. He studied accounting and business administration at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

In 2021, a Kogi-based group, the Anti-Corruption Network, notably released a report accusing him of monumental corruption. The report alleged that the Bello administration had committed large-scale fraud, in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, by awarding state contracts improperly, irregularities and conflicts of interest in awarding contracts, awarding contracts without due process, and money laundering. The administration said the allegations were politically motivated.

Regarding his N80b money laundering case, the judge adjourned the matter till September 25 for arraignment. It remains to be seen whether he will be in court.

It is unclear what effort the EFCC is making to locate him, arrest him, and prosecute him. Indeed, there are suggestions that the agency may no longer be in pursuit of the fugitive.

The Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwanguma, was reported saying, “It is surprising that despite all the hot waves and drama of the EFCC, including the vow of the chairman that he would resign if he couldn’t arrest Yahaya Bello, the man is still out there more than three months after he was declared wanted.

“If they truly wanted to arrest Yahaya Bello, they would have arrested him. If this was a case of a poor man, they would have easily arrested him.

Predictably, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale was reported to have declared that he “remains wanted.” But this declaration is not enough. There are questions: Does the agency know his whereabouts? What is delaying his arrest? EFCC has a lot of explaining to do.

Bello has refused to give himself up. But he must not be allowed to give the impression that he is above the law. Or that he can escape the long arm of the law.