A recent report has allegeed that Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, has been detained under “protective custody” by the state government since being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The report claims that Bello, who reportedly had a hand in selecting Ahmed Usman Ododo as his successor, has been evading the EFCC’s warrant for his arrest by leveraging the security agents attached to the Kogi State Government. The report further suggests that the state has been sheltering Bello, effectively impeding the EFCC’s attempts to apprehend the former governor and question him in relation to alleged corruption.
In addition, according to a report from “The Cable”, the EFCC has reportedly sought the assistance of Interpol by issuing a Red Notice against Bello, a measure taken in response to the federal high court in Abuja’s issuance of an arrest warrant.
To elaborate, a Red Notice, as defined by Interpol, is a global alert sent to the member countries of the organization, requesting assistance in identifying and apprehending an individual who is wanted for arrest, prosecution, or extradition. By issuing a Red Notice against Bello, the EFCC is leveraging the global law enforcement community’s network and resources to apprehend the former governor, as they believe he has fled the country to evade prosecution for his alleged crimes.
This international arrest warrant, known as a Red Notice, essentially puts Yahaya Bello on a wanted list across the vast majority of the world. The notice enables law enforcement agencies in any country that is a member of Interpol, except for the few countries that do not participate in the organization, to apprehend Bello should he attempt to cross their borders. The former governor, therefore, has few places to seek refuge as the EFCC continues to pursue him for his alleged corruption, making his continued evasion all the more precarious.
Earlier in April, EFCC operatives had launched a sting operation at Bello’s residence in Abuja, intending to arrest the former governor. However, their efforts were thwarted when Ahmed Usman Ododo, Bello’s alleged successor and ally, arrived at the residence and is said to have assisted Bello in evading arrest.
