EFCC Places Kogi Ex-Gov, Yahaya Bello On INTERPOL Watch List

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has added former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to INTERPOL’s list of wanted individuals in three North African nations: Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.

It’s worth noting that Bello was previously included on INTERPOL’s radar in Egypt, Libya, and Sudan.

The commission has taken this step following intelligence suggesting that Bello might attempt to flee to one of these countries.

The decision to place Bello on the watch list was also made in anticipation of his court appearance on July 17 before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Bello is charged with 19 offenses, including money laundering, breach of trust, and the misappropriation of public funds amounting to N80.2 billion.

Bello has denied these charges and has repeatedly failed to show up for his court dates with Judge Justice Emeka Nwite on June 13 and June 27.

In his most recent court appearance, Bello requested a change of venue to the Federal High Court in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State.

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In response to the situation, an EFCC spokesperson stated, “In preparation for the upcoming court proceedings, the EFCC has explored various measures, including the decision to place Bello on INTERPOL’s watch list 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.”