Governor Usman Ododo, in a daring and controversial move, has facilitated the escape of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello from an EFCC-led arrest in Abuja, transporting him to the relative safety of Lokoja.
Amidst escalating tensions and gunfire, Governor Ododo arrived at Bello’s Abuja residence, where EFCC agents had laid siege, attempting to arrest the former governor.
With the assistance of a police escort, Ododo managed to extract Bello and transport him in his official vehicle to Lokoja, where it is believed he could be shielded using state resources, SaharaReporters reported.
A security source disclosed, “After Governor Ododo whisked Yahaya Bello away with the help of policemen, he was subsequently smuggled to Lokoja,” highlighting the strategic extraction under fire.
The scene at Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, turned volatile with reports of a “serious gun battle,” complicating the enforcement actions by the EFCC.
The agency, having earlier tracked Bello to Abuja through the mobile phone of his aide, was prevented from apprehending the former governor by the intervention of police forces attached to Governor Ododo.
The confrontation nearly heightened into a bloody clash, prevented by the orders of the Inspector General of Police who, according to sources, reinforced Bello’s position at the behest of Governor Ododo, aiming to avert further violence.
The EFCC has since reiterated its stance on obstruction, warning the public through a statement, “It is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties,” underscoring the potential for a five-year prison term for such actions as stipulated by Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act.
Despite this incident, the EFCC remains committed to its mandate, asserting that no individual, including Bello, is above the law and signaling continued efforts to bring him to justice.
