Breaking News: EFCC Places Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello on INTERPOL Watchlist Over N80.2bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested INTERPOL to place former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on a watchlist in three North African countries: Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. The move, according to EFCC sources, is based on credible intelligence and also extends to Egypt, Libya, and Sudan.

Bello faces a 19-count charge, including allegations of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds amounting to about N80.2 billion. Despite denying the allegations, he has repeatedly failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite on scheduled dates in June.

The EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, recently met with Heads of INTERPOL in North Africa to request Bello’s placement on a Red Alert, which was accepted, and the watch listing took immediate effect.

According to an EFCC source, “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.”