The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has explained why security agencies have not been able to arrest the embattled past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Onanuga, while giving the explanation on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-economic programme aired on Channels Television, attributed the inability of security agencies to arrest the former governor to the “complicated” nature of the case.
DAILY POST recalls that in April, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, declared Bello, wanted for alleged financial crime to the tune of N80.2 billion.
It could also be recalled that the anti-graft agency had at various times stormed Bello’s residence in an attempt to arrest him but his successor, Usman Ododo, had come to his rescue, whisking him away to his lodge.
The matter has been in court but the former governor has not appeared before the trial judge despite many adjournments.
When asked why police authorities can’t order orderlies attached to Ododo to arrest Bello, Onanuga said: “I think it’s a bit complicated. The EFCC is an agency of the Federal Government, and it wants to arrest Yahaya Bello. Yahaya Bello is hiding under the agbada (flowing robe) of the governor of Kogi State, his (Bello’s) successor, who happens to enjoy immunity.
“That’s the problem because if he (Bello) stays inside Governor Ododo’s house, the police cannot do anything because they will be violating that immunity that the man enjoys.
“It’s like a diplomat enjoying certain immunity; you cannot do anything about it. You remember in the UK when they were looking for the Wikileaks man and he went to hide in one embassy in Britain, there was nothing they (security agents) could do, they left him there. I think he later came out and they arrested him.
“It’s the same thing. Ododo enjoys immunity. Yahaya Bello is believed to be hiding there. They cannot storm the place and say they want to arrest him. That’s the problem of the EFCC, and the police cannot help the EFCC.”