Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has finally surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after over six months of being in hiding.
According to a statement signed by the Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, Bello decided to appear before the anti-graft agency after consultations with his family, legal team, and political associates.
Bello has for months now shunned invitation by the anti graft agency over allegations of money laundering and financial impropriety while serving as Kogi State governor.
Bello and three others are facing 19 counts of money laundering totalling N80.2 billion.
The media office said the former governor personally met with the EFCC to clear his reputation, claiming that he has “nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”
The statement by the office said the governor had previously pursued the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process in the ongoing probe.
The statement said: “The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing.
” It is important for the former governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name, as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
“The former governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development and supports the fight against corruption in the country,” the statement added.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede had earlier in the year threatened to resign if the former governor was not prosecuted.
He vowed to see Bello’s prosecution to its logical conclusion, vowing that anyone who obstructed the former governor’s arrest would face justice.
Bello had April this year escaped from his home after three days of seige by the EFCC and has been in hiding since then.