Police detain Yahaya Bello’s ADC, other security details linked to ex-gov’s escape

The Nigeria Police Force has detained a female police officer who served as the aide-de-camp to the embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

The ADC, along with other police officers assigned to the 48-year-old Bello, is currently held at the State Criminal Investigation Department in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Their detention follows an order issued on Thursday night by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, for their immediate withdrawal from the former governor.

Sources within the police, speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to comment publicly, disclosed that the officers were apprehended on suspicion of aiding and abetting Bello’s escape from operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who attempted to arrest him at his Abuja residence on Wednesday.

“The ADC and other police officers attached to Yahaya Bello have been arrested and detained. They were apprehended on the IG’s orders due to suspicions that they facilitated the former governor’s evasion from the EFCC on Wednesday,” one source stated during a telephone conversation on Friday.

Another source confirmed, “Yahaya Bello’s female ADC and other police officers assigned to him were brought to the command this morning and have been detained for aiding and abetting (the governor’s escape).”

On Thursday night, Egbetokun instructed the withdrawal of all police officers assigned to Bello, as communicated through a police wireless message.

Furthermore, the Federal Government placed Bello on a watch list, as revealed in a document exclusively obtained by the publication. Signed by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the document cited Bello for conspiracy, breach of trust, and money laundering, and urged his arrest if spotted at any entry or exit point.

Earlier, the EFCC had declared Bello wanted for laundering the sum of N80,246,470,088.88, posting a notice on its official Facebook page alongside his photograph.

Bello failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, where he was arraigned by the EFCC along with three other suspects on 19-count charges of money laundering.

Reports had surfaced of the incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, allegedly aiding Bello’s escape from EFCC operatives on Wednesday. Witnesses observed Ododo’s arrival with heavy security at Bello’s residence, after which Bello left with him in the governor’s vehicle.

In response, the EFCC, in a statement, described the situation as a provocation, emphasizing that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice. Meanwhile, Bello’s media office accused the EFCC of persecution, asserting that the charges against him were baseless and part of a political witch-hunt.