Yahaya Bello, the immediate former governor of Kogi State, is under threat from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to come out of hiding. Over the past two weeks, there has been a game of hide and seek between the commission and the former governor. On Wednesday, the commission broke into Bello’s Abuja home in an attempt to arrest him, but they were prevented from doing so by outside forces. Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as modified) grants his successor, Governor Ahmed Ododo, protection, hence it is possible that the previous governor was hiding in the Kogi State Government House.
Bello has been sought out by the EFCC in order to apprehend him for alleged financial mismanagement during his governorship. This Thursday was Bello’s scheduled court appearance, but he was not present, thus the arraignment could not proceed. Attorney for the EFCC, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court during Thursday’s proceedings that Bello will be brought before the court for his trial, even if that means using the military to apprehend him. In order to get Yahaya Bello out of hiding, he may need to be invited by the military, he stated.
Immunity may not cover him where he is hiding, thus we may need to use force to get him out. Nobody is exempt from the law. The governor is the only one protected by immunity; those around him are not.
Immunity may not cover him where he is hiding, thus we may need to use force to get him out. Nobody is exempt from the law. The governor is the only one protected by immunity; those around him are not.