The reason why security forces have had difficulty apprehending former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial crimes totalling N80.2 billion, has been clarified by Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, Onanuga explained, “The case is a bit complicated. Yahaya Bello is hiding under the agbada (flowing robe) of the governor of Kogi State, his successor, who enjoys immunity.”
He emphasised that the EFCC finds it difficult to carry out the arrest since this immunity forbids police intervention inside the governor’s home.
Since the EFCC proclaimed Bello wanted in April, repeated attempts to apprehend him have failed, with the current governor, Usman Ododo, purportedly intervening to shield Bello from arrest.
“If he stays inside Governor Ododo’s house, the police cannot do anything because they will be violating that immunity,” he said.
He draws comparisons to a previous international issue involving the WikiLeaks creator, saying, “It’s like a diplomat enjoying certain immunity; you can’t do anything about it.”
The matter remains controversial, since Bello has yet to appear in court after many adjournments. This puts the EFCC and the police in a difficult position when it comes to enforcing the law.