Yahaya Bello faces INTERPOL surveillance, added to watchlist
Ahead of his expected appearance before a Federal High Court in Abuja on July 17th, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria has intensified efforts to monitor and potentially apprehend former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The EFCC has activated a watch-list in several North African countries, citing credible intelligence.
The EFCC disclosed that this decision was driven by information about a failed attempt by Bello to exit Nigeria to Morocco via Cameroon.
To this end, the EFCC has enlisted INTERPOL’s assistance in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, and extended the watch-list to Egypt, Libya, and Sudan.
EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, while in Tunisia for a session on illicit financial flows, met with INTERPOL heads from North African countries to discuss the intelligence on Bello.
He formally requested that INTERPOL place Bello on a Red Alert across North Africa, a request that was accepted.
Olukoyede stated that the step was taken because the EFCC suspects Bello has been evading arraignment, noting that he is expected to appear in court to prove his innocence.
Sources within the anti-graft agency revealed that various strategies are being considered, including potentially storming the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where Bello is reportedly hiding.
Despite denying the allegations, the former governor has consistently failed to appear before the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, on June 13th and June 27th. Instead, he filed an application requesting the transfer of his trial to the Federal High Court in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
