By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The former Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was absent in court on Thursday when he was to be arraigned by the anti-money laundering agency over allegations of embezzling about N80.3 billion while he was in office as the Governor of Kogi State for eight years.
Officials of the EFCC had stormed his Abuja residence on Wednesday but he was allegedly whisked away by his successor, Mr Usman Ododo. When did not appear in court today, the commission declared Mr Yahaya Bello wanted.
In a notice today, the commission called on Nigerians with information as to the whereabouts of the 48-year-old politician to report immediately to its office or the nearest police station.
“The public is hereby notified that YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
“Bello, 48-year-old Ebiraman, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its lbadan, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices or through these numbers 09-9044751-3, 08093322644, 08183322644, 07026350721-3, 0706350724-5; its e-mail address: [email protected] or the nearest police station and other security agencies,” the EFCC said.
Adedapo Adesanya