After the incident at the residence of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, which delayed his scheduled arrest, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) issued a warning, stating that the organisation would not put up with any obstructions to its nationwide operations.

The EFCC declared that anyone caught doing so will be prosecuted as required by law, stating that it is illegal to prevent Commission officers from performing their legitimate tasks.

In a statement released on Wednesday and made available to newsmen by its Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency stressed that anyone caught risk jail term.

According to the statement, “Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

“This warning becomes necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.

“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order. Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions”.

This came hours after the planned arrest of Bello from his home was truncated by the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, who stormed his predecessor’s home and whisked him away to avert arrest.

The act forced the anti-graft agency to withdraw its officials who had being laying siege at the home of the former governor, in order to arrest him.

Usman Ododo, the executive governor of Kogi State, has visited the embattled former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, amidst a heavy security siege on the Yaya’s Abuja mansion.

It was gathered that Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence at about 2:30 pm Wednesday, alongside several security operatives and youth supporters protesting against the siege to the former governor’s home.

It was further gathered that there is a heavy presence of armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), policemen, operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS), Counter Terrorism Unit, and Yahaya Bello’s private security team at the scene.

EFCC operatives had on Wednesday morning stormed Bello’s Abuja home located in Wuse Zone 4, Federal Capital Territory.

Photographs making rounds on the internet show some armed EFCC personnel laying siege to the ex-governor’s home on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

Recall that the EFCC had earlier dragged Yahaya Bello, his nephew Ali, one Dauda Sulaiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in an amended charge in March 2024 over an alleged N84bn money laundering.

Reacting to the development, the ex-governor’s media office, in a statement, condemned the operatives’ actions while urging President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC.

According to the statement, the presence of the operatives in Bello’s residence negated the order of injunction granted on February 9, 2024, by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Yahaya Bello v. EFCC, restraining the commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting him, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have laid siege to the Abuja residence of Kogi State’s former Governor, Yahaya Bello.

It was gathered that the EFCC officials barricaded the former governor’s residence since 9am on Wednesday.

The purpose of the operation by the anti-graft operatives was unknown as of press time as efforts to speak with them proved abortive.

Some supporters of the former governor were seen in front of the house.

See photos below;

More to come…