The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has insisted that the immediate past Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, remains wanted.

The declaration was made on Tuesday, in a press statement issued by EFCC Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a rebuttal that Mr Bello was in the anti-graft agency’s custody.

Mr Oyewale said, “Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is incorrect.  The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.’’

The EFCC spokesperson added that, “Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”

The denial by the EFCC followed the statement by the Director, Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, earlier in the day that the former governor had honoured the agency’s invitation, “to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”

Justice Emeka Nwite of Federal High Court, Abuja, in May ordered that Mr Bello appear in court to face a 19-count charge bordering on his alleged complicity in money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds amounting to about N80.2billion.

In response however, Mr Bello who had failed to appear in several scheduled arraignments with his whereabouts unknown, in a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, pleaded for his trial to be transferred to Kogi State.  

According to Mr Bello, only the Lokoja Division of the high court has the territorial jurisdiction to hear the suit brought against him by the EFCC.

However, Justice Tsoho, in a letter dated July 2, and signed by his special assistant, Joshua Aji, rejected Mr Bello’s application, insisting that the case could be heard in Abuja, since the alleged stolen funds were to be used to acquire property in the Federal Capital Territory.