Apparently working on intelligence that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello may escape justice through three North African countries of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has placed him on INTERPOL’s watch list in those countries
The anti-graft commission’s action is coming ahead of the July 17 expected appearance of the former governor before a Federal High Court in Abuja
Bello is facing a 19-count charge for alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N80.2billion.
The former governor has denied the allegation and has consistently failed to appear before the trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite on June 13 and June 27.
At the last hearing, Bello filed an application for the transfer of his trial to the Federal High Court, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
Speaking on the situation, the EFCC source said, “Ahead of the next hearing of the case, EFCC has activated many options, including taking a concrete action to watch-list Bello in North Africa.
“We are aware of a botched exit to Morocco via Cameroon. We are determined to stop him from going on exile.
“From Singapore, the EFCC executive chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede was in Tunisia where he delivered a paper at a session on illicit financial flows. Thereafter, he had a meeting with all the heads of INTERPOL in North Africa on the intelligence on the ex-governor.
“He formally asked INTERPOL to place Bello on Red Alert in all North African countries and it was accepted.
“The watch-list has taken immediate effect. He will be arrested in any part of North Africa. We took this step because we are suspecting that he had been bidding time not to be available for arraignment.
“We expect Bello to be in court to prove his innocence. EFCC has to do its work to avoid bad precedent”.
