ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Ahead of his July 17 expected appearance before a Federal High Court in Abuja, former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello has been placed on a watchlist in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asked INTERPOL in the North African nations to place the ex-governor on its watchlist.
“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 paper quoted an unnamed EFCC source as saying.
Bello, who is also reportedly on a watchlist in Egypt, Libya and Sudan, is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N80.2billion.
On Thursday, June 27, the defendant failed to appear before the Federal High Court, stalling his scheduled arraignment for the fifth time.
He previously snubbed his court appearance before Justice Emeka Nwite on April 18, April 23, May 10 and June 13.
Rather than appear in court, Bello sent his lawyers to request the transfer of the case to the court’s division in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The EFCC is said to be exploring every available option to get a hold of Bello, including storming the Kogi State Government House where the ex-governor is believed to be hiding.
