EFCC Tips Off Interpol: Yahaya Bello Plotting Escape to Morocco

Yahaya Bello

Yahaya Bello intends to leave through Cameroon and enter Morocco; the EFCC notifies Interpol

EFCC intensifies manhunt for Yahaya Bello, places him on Interpol watch list in 6 countries

The International Criminal Police Organization, or INTERPOL, has received a request from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to add former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to a watch list in three North African nations: Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.

EFCC sources claim that this action, which covers Egypt, Libya, and Sudan, is grounded in reliable intelligence.

A raid on the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where Bello is rumored to be hiding, is one of the tactics being examined to deal with the situation, according to insiders within the anti-graft agency.

According to them, the watch list was put into effect ahead of Bello's scheduled court appearance before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 17.

Bello is accused of money laundering, breach of trust, and theft of public funds totaling over N80.2 billion, among other offenses, on 19 counts.

He has consistently missed his June appearances before Justice Emeka Nwite, even though he denies the accusations.

According to an EFCC source, “Ahead of the next hearing of the case, EFCC has activated many options, including taking concrete action to watch-list Bello in North Africa. We are aware of a botched exit to Morocco via Cameroon and are determined to prevent him from fleeing into exile.”

Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, recently visited Tunisia to meet with North African INTERPOL chiefs and asked that Bello be put on a Red Alert. After this request was granted, the watch-listing was put into effect right away.

“We took this step because we suspect that Bello has been biding his time to avoid arraignment. We expect him to appear in court to prove his innocence. The EFCC must do its job to prevent setting a bad precedent,” the source added.