Onanuga: Yahaya Bello Hiding Behind Governor Ododo’s Immunity, EFCC Unable to Act

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has explained why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been unable to arrest the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

In April, the EFCC declared Bello wanted for alleged financial crimes amounting to N80.2 billion. The anti-graft agency has made multiple attempts to arrest him, even raiding his residence in Abuja, but his successor, Usman Ododo, intervened to whisk him away to safety.

Despite numerous adjournments, the former governor has not appeared before the trial judge. Onanuga attributed the challenges faced by security agencies in apprehending Bello to the “complicated” nature of the case.

During an interview with Channels, Onanuga was asked why police authorities can’t order the orderlies attached to Ododo to arrest Bello. He responded by saying

“I think it’s a bit complicated. The EFCC is an agency of the Federal Government, and it wants to arrest Yahaya Bello. Yahaya Bello is hiding under the agbada (flowing robe) of the governor of Kogi State, his (Bello’s) successor, who happens to enjoy immunity.

“That’s the problem because if he (Bello) stays inside Governor Ododo’s house, the police cannot do anything because they will be violating that immunity that the man enjoys.

“It’s like a diplomat enjoying certain immunity; you cannot do anything about it. You remember in the UK when they were looking for the Wikileaks man and he went to hide in one embassy in Britain, there was nothing they (security agents) could do, they left him there. I think he later came out and they arrested him.

“It’s the same thing. Ododo enjoys immunity. Yahaya Bello is believed to be hiding there. They cannot storm the place and say they want to arrest him. That’s the problem of the EFCC, and the police cannot help the EFCC.”