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Oladipo Abiola
Guest
A Source has claimed that the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, specifically instructed that no official should attend to the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, when he visited the agency on Wednesday.
The source claimed the manner in which Bello came to the EFCC was unacceptable to the commission and a breach of protocol.
According to the source, Bello was able to skip some normal procedures in the EFCC because he came with a sitting Governor, Usman Ododo of Kogi State, who has immunity.
The EFCC, however, said it can’t be intimidated by anybody or allow itself to be compromised by any political institution.
The anti-graft agency also called out Governor Ododo for the role so far played in the case involving Bello.
“Upon realising that Bello came with the governor and some dignitaries, the Executive Chairman directed that no official should attend to him.
“His manner of coming to EFCC was a breach of our protocol. No Nigerian, no matter how highly placed, is expected to come for an invitation in a convoy of vehicles and with a sitting governor.
“To the EFCC, he came with grandeur which is contrary to our procedures.
“There are stages of documentation which Bello skipped because he was with the governor who has immunity.
“The EFCC also did not invite the governor. So, what was the basis for accompanying Bello to our headquarters in Abuja?
“We have not been comfortable with the roles of the governor in this case.
“After fulfilling all procedures of documentation, Bello was expected to come with his lawyer(s) and not a governor or Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).
“We cannot be intimidated or subject our system to political pollution.
“This made the Executive Chairman of EFCC to direct that no official should attend to Bello. He must undergo due process like every invitee,” a source told The Nation.
The EFCC also accused the media team of the former Governor of trying to promote propaganda by saying Bello was already in EFCC custody.
“The commission was unhappy with the pre-emptive propaganda in the media by Bello’s team which had created false impressions.
“There was a narration that the ex-governor was already in EFCC’s custody,” the source added.
Naija News recalls there was drama on Wednesday when the media team of Bello said the former Kogi State Governor honoured the invitation of the EFCC by appearing at its headquarters in Abuja but the EFCC, through its spokesperson, denied having Bello in its custody.
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