The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to arrest the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, over alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

The EFCC said it would arrest Bello and bring Bello before the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment to answer the charges preferred against him.

The anti-graft agency made this known while addressing the court through its team of lawyers led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) in Abuja on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Pinheiro said: “We have to arraign him in court even if we have to use the military. Immunity is only attached to a person and not the building.

“The law allows to break down walls to arrest an evading defendant. Section 284 says all persons are to obey the service of charge.”

EFCC to Nigerians: Obstruct our operations, risk 5 years in jail

The commission had earlier warned Nigerians against obstruction of its operations, saying it is a criminal offence.

“It is a criminal offence to obstruct the commission’s officers from carrying out their lawful duties,” EFCC declared via a statement issued by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Thursday.

The warning came after Bello was whisked away from his Abuja residence by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, following attempts by the EFCC operatives to arrest and prosecute him for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering.

Oyewale said Section 38(2) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

The former governor was arraigned in absentia before the court on Thursday.

The Star