TheCable

Abdulwahab Muhammed, counsel to Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, says his client was in his state when operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) besieged his Abuja residence on Wednesday.

Bello’s counsel said this at the federal high court in Abuja, during the hearing of the alleged money laundering case against Alli Bello, chief of staff to Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi; Yahaya Bello, and one Daudu Suleiman.

The ex-governor of Kogi was absent from the courtroom.

Muhammed said Bello was awaiting the judgment of a high court in the state, which restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting him, when he learnt that his Abuja residence had been invaded.

On Wednesday morning, operatives of the EFCC laid siege on the residence and cordoned off the street.

They also restricted movement in and around the house situated on Benghazi street, Wuse Zone 4.

Muhammed described the move by the EFCC as “illegal and unconstitutional”.

He said the court was misled to give an arrest warrant against the former governor.

The development comes about a month after the EFCC named Bello in an amended money laundering charge filed against Alli Bello.

Alli and one Daudu Suleiman are the two defendants in the 17-count amended charge. The EFCC alleged that the suspects diverted about N100 billion belonging to the Kogi government.

Responding to the EFCC charge, the Kogi government said funds belonging to the state were not missing during the administration of the former governor.

Ododo showed up at Bello’s residence during the stand-off and reportedly whisked away his predecessor from the building.

The EFCC had subsequently frowned at Ododo’s alleged action, describing it as an “obstruction of lawful operations”.