Soft Landing Deal for Yahaya Bello Goes Awry as EFCC, Security Operatives Clash
Abuja, Nigeria – A carefully negotiated deal intended to provide a “soft landing” for Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, turned chaotic at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday morning. Bello, who had been at odds with the anti-graft agency, was expected to honor an invitation from the EFCC but left amidst a series of dramatic events.
According to sources, the deal was brokered by Governor Usman Ododo, Bello’s successor, who engaged senior officials within President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The agreement reportedly required Bello to return some state funds traced to him in exchange for a plea bargain, but he would still face legal charges, albeit for lesser offences.
Armed with the understanding that an arrangement had been secured, Ododo escorted Bello from Lokoja to Abuja and accompanied him to the EFCC office. Using his status as governor, Ododo gained access to the EFCC premises without formalities, announcing that Bello was there to respond to the agency’s earlier invitation after leaving office in January 2024.
A Sudden Twist of Events
Despite the anticipated resolution, it soon became clear that the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, was unaware of any such deal. When Ododo contacted Michael Nzekwe, Chief of Staff to the EFCC chairman, Nzekwe informed the governor that the chairman was unavailable and suggested they leave, promising to reach out once arrangements were in place.
Bello’s media aide, Ohiare Michael, had already issued a press statement confirming that the former governor had honored the EFCC’s invitation. However, sources in both camps provided differing accounts of what happened next.
Bello’s associates claim the entourage spent four hours at the EFCC headquarters before being asked to leave. They argued that the EFCC should have welcomed Bello, considering the Red Notice issued against him by Interpol after he was declared wanted.
“You declared a man wanted and he voluntarily submitted himself, only for you to turn him back. It raises questions about the motives behind the investigation,” one of Bello’s associates told Journalists. They further alleged that the EFCC preferred to arrest and handcuff Bello for a media spectacle, which led to the dramatic events that unfolded later that night at the Kogi Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro.
EFCC’s Version of Events
EFCC insiders, however, had a different story. According to them, there are established protocols for handling suspects, none of which were followed. “What Governor Ododo tried to do was use his immunity status to force the EFCC to act outside its procedures,” a source from the EFCC said.
The commission expected only Bello and his legal team to enter for questioning, but the large entourage that accompanied him was seen as an attempt to interfere with the process. Ododo’s insistence on remaining at the EFCC premises was viewed as an intimidation tactic.
The situation escalated further when images of Ododo and Bello arriving at the EFCC headquarters went viral online, breaching the commission’s strict prohibition on photography within its premises.
Shots Fired at Kogi Governor’s Lodge
Later that afternoon, EFCC officials attempted to invite Bello back to the commission. When Nzekwe arrived at the Kogi Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, a confrontation broke out between Bello’s security team and EFCC operatives.
Both sides have blamed each other for the melee. While Bello’s camp claimed EFCC operatives arrived to forcefully arrest him, EFCC sources alleged that Ododo’s security personnel fired the first shots into the air, prompting the EFCC to respond. Amidst the confusion, Bello reportedly fled the scene, leaving the EFCC once again unable to apprehend him.