The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has withdrawn the security details attached to the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The order for the withdrawal was contained in a Police Wireless Message obtained by newsmen on Thursday night.
EFCC had also asked all security agencies to place Bello on their watch list to prevent him from leaving the country “through any land, air or sea borders.”
Granting the request and circulating the EFCC directive, the Federal Government has placed Yahaya Bello, on its watchlist.
This was disclosed by the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap, in a memo.
Security agencies in the country have been alerted and the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, ordered to arrest him at any entry and exit point.
The circular stated that the former Kogi governor was under investigation and there was a suspicion that he might leave the country to evade investigations.
“VERY URGENT PLEASE!!! I am directed to request you to place the above named subject on watch list with immediate effect. Subject has resisted arrest and arraignment therefore he may run out of the country anytime. Please accept the assurances of the CGIS’s warmest regards and esteem,” it read.
Recall that the immediate past governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello has been declared wanted by the Economic and financial crimes commission ( EFCC) for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 billion.
According to a statement on Thursday via its official Facebook account, EFCC declared Bello wanted.
Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency called on those with vital information about the former Kogi governor’s whereabouts to reach the commission or the police.
“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 Billion,” the EFCC said in a Thursday evening post on its Facebook page it captioned ‘Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello Wanted By the EFCC’.
“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest police Station.”
The declaration is the latest in the tussle between Bello and the anti-crime agency. The chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was absent at the Federal High Court in Abuja for a suit instituted against him by the EFCC.
This forced Justice Emeka Nwite to adjourn the suit and for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged money laundering.
On Wednesday the anti-graft agency’s officials besieged the former governor’s residence in the Wuse area of Abuja, attempting to arrest Bello for arraignment.
Despite the siege, which lasted hours, the agency could not arrest the former governor whom it claimed was whisked away by his successor Usman Ododo.
The EFCC roundly condemned the move describing it as an attempt to frustrate the agency’s operations.
In the face of the heated battle, Bello’s Media Office accused the anti crime agency of a witchhunt against its principal.