Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of misappropriating funds amounting to N80.2 billion, The Bureau Newspaper reports.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, stating that Bello was apprehended at the commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, at around 12:54 PM.
“Yes, he (Yahaya Bello) was arrested today, alongside three of his lawyers. He is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation with our investigators,” Oyewale revealed to journalists.
The former governor reportedly arrived at the EFCC office earlier in the day with his legal team. His detention follows a prior declaration of him as wanted by the commission on April 18, 2024, over alleged money laundering charges.
Sources disclosed that Bello is being held for further questioning after failing to honor previous EFCC invitations. Two of his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, were earlier granted administrative bail, while Bello’s court summons had been extended during a November 14 hearing.
The former governor is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Wednesday, marking a critical step in the ongoing investigation.
This is a developing story; updates will follow as more details emerge.