How EFCC Chairman Released Yahaya Bello Without Questioning – Eye Witness
•Says EFCC Chairman Is Incompetent
An eyewitness has detailed what transpired between the embattled former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday.
Osun Defender reports that controversies have trialled the visit of Bello, who was alleged of fraud, to the EFCC office on Wednesday.
While Bello’s people insisted that the former governor visited the EFCC office but was not interrogated, the anti-graft agency said Bello was not in their custody, saying he is still a wanted man.
The eye witness in a viral audio, accused the EFCC of gross incompetence and violence.
According to the eyewitness, Bello was at the EFCC office with the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, for over four hours before they were told by the agency chairman to leave.
The aide, who did not mention his name, said one Mr Mike, who he said was the Chief of Staff to the EFCC chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, conveyed the message to them and asked them to leave, promising to call when the EFCC chairman is free to attend to them.
He said, “The system is so rotten that we have incompetent people in positions of authority, more particularly under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“What played out yesterday between the EFCC and Yahaya Bello was an eyesore. Highly heartbreaking and most unfortunate scenario. The EFCC chairman demonstrated the highest level of incompetence, and that is unacceptable.
“Yahaya Bello went with Governor Usman Ododo and others, yesterday to the EFCC office. We were there for more than four hours without anyone attending to us until the chairman sent his Chief of Staff, Mr Mike who came to tell us that the chairman is busy and won’t be able to attend to us. He told Ododo and Yahaya Bello that the EFCC chairman would call them when he was ready.
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“Gov Ododo and Bello left the EFCC office unattended to and went to the Kogi State ggovernor’slodge, Asukoro. We were there waiting for the EFCC to call us to come back when Mr Mike called Gov Ododo.”
The man in the audio, however, said Mike called the Kogi Gov later to ask about their whereabouts, adding that the EFCC official was to that they were at the Kogi State governor’s lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
He alleged that Mike came to where the former governor and his successor and others were, pleading with them to allow the EFCC operatives to rarrestBello.
According to the aide, Mike said the agency wanted to make it look like Bello was arrested, noting that the plea was declined.
He added, “Mr Mike later called the Gov and asked where he and Yahaya Bello were. The governor told him they were waiting for the EFCC’s call and that they were in Asukoro.
“Mike told the governor he would come by himself. On getting to Asukoro, Mike pleaded with the governor to allow the EFCC operatives to arrest Bello.
“But Yahaya Bello declined, saying they cannot arrest him. They argued this till dusk when Mr Mike called the office for backup. Before we knew what was happening, EFCC security operatives besieged the Kogi liaison office and started shooting sporadically.
“Gov Ododo after being embarrassed by the EFCC operatives, left the place for the EFCC. That was what salvaged what would have happened yesterday.”
He called for the sack of the EFCC chairman, saying that he was incompetent and an embarrassment to the institution.
“The EFCC chairman has to be relieved of his appointment because he is grossly incompetent. He is an embarrassment to that institution. He does not know his left from right.”
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
