The police's Inspector General, Olukayode Egbetokun, has recalled all the police officers assigned to the troubled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The directive for the withdrawal was in a police wireless message observed by our reporter on Friday.
The official document referenced as “CB:4001/DOPS/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.48/ 34 stated, “IG has ordered the withdrawal of all policemen attached to His Excellency and former Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
“Please confirm compliance and handle with utmost seriousness. Also, take note for your information and strict adherence.”
Before this, the Nigerian Immigration Service put the ex-governor on its watchlist due to an allegation of money laundering involving N80.2bn, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission declared him wanted.
The NIS notice seen by The PUNCH was dated April 18, 2024, and was signed by Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, DS Umar, for the Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap.
The NIS provided the name, nationality, and passport number of the former governor (B50083321) and stated, “I am directed to inform you that the above-named person has been placed on the watch list.
“It is important to mention that the individual is being prosecuted before the Federal High Court Abuja for conspiracy, breach of trust, and money laundering according to letter Ref; CR; 3000/EFCC/LS/EGCS.1/ TE/Vide/1/279 dated April 18, 2024.
“If spotted at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation or contact 08036226329/07039617304 for further action.”
Earlier, the EFCC declared Bello wanted, asking members of the public with useful information about the former governor’s whereabouts to contact any of the commission’s offices across the country.
The anti-graft commission had earlier stated that it would arraign the former governor before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday.
This came after the EFCC was granted a warrant of arrest by the Federal High Court in Abuja to apprehend Bello.
Bello, alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, were to be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on 19 counts related to money laundering.
However, a confrontation occurred when officers of the Nigeria Police Force thwarted the EFCC’s effort to arrest Bello at his Abuja residence on Wednesday.
A group of armed men, known as “Special Forces,” along with officers from the Nigeria Police Force, intervened to obstruct the EFCC operatives from apprehending him.
The PUNCH learned that the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, had stepped in to block the arrest of his predecessor.
Ododo’s security team reportedly escorted Bello out of the location in the governor’s vehicle.
