SaharaReporters had reported earlier on Thursday that the Nigeria Police Force had withdrawn the security details attached to Yahaya Bello.
Nigerian tweeps have lambasted the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the police authorities for withdrawing security details attached to the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had declared him wanted.
The order for the withdrawal was contained in a Police Wireless Message obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday night.
On Wednesday, some EFCC operatives barricaded Bellos Abuja residence.
However, the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, intervened to prevent the arrest of the former governor of the state by the EFCC operatives.
Ododos team had escorted Bello out of the location in the governors vehicle.
Bello was also absent in court earlier on Thursday when the EFCC arraigned him.
His arraignment came after a warrant of arrest and enrolment order was granted to the EFCC by the court on Wednesday.
Subsequently, the agency declared Bello wanted for an alleged financial crime to the tune of N80.2billion.
The commission said in a bulletin that "anybody with information as to his whereabout should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest police station."
SaharaReporters earlier reported how EFCC asked all security agencies to place Bello on their watch list to prevent him from leaving the country through any land, air or sea borders.
However, Nigerian tweeps lambasted the police authorities for withdrawing Bello''s security details instead of ordering them to arrest and bring him to court to face his trial.
Prof Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights activist and former Chairman of Nigeria''s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) queried the wisdom in declaring Bello wanted and then withdrawing his security details.
He wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account: "Can someone pls make this make sense: so, at just the moment that @NigeriaGov & @officialEFCC have declared @OfficialGYBKogi wanted, @PoliceNG choose to withdraw it''s personnel from him. Why can''t those be used to arrest him instead?"
He added, "Yahaya Bello did not joke with protection from @PoliceNG. He got the best....!"
” Chidi Odinkalu, CGoF (@ChidiOdinkalu) April 19, 2024
Mahdi Shehu with handle @shehu_mahdi responded that the authorities are giving him a chance to escape undetected.
He wrote: "They are giving him a generous chance to escape undetected because he is " A GOOD BOY" whose services may be needed in the future. Run, yahaya, run and escape."
They are giving him a generous chance to escape undetected because he is " A GOOD BOY" whose services may be needed in the future. Run, yahaya, run and escape
” Mahdi Shehu (@shehu_mahdi) April 19, 2024
@Nairaexchanger wrote:
"While he was wanted, he was walking around with police and DSS details. Yet, the govt did not know where he was.
"Just to make sure they can say, they dont know where he is. His police detail have been removed. we are so intelligent."
While he was wanted, he was walking around with police and DSS details. Yet, the govt did not know where he was.
Just to make sure they can say, they dont know where he is. His police detail have been removed. 🤣 we are so intelligent 🤣🤣🤣. pic.twitter.com/pSn6c6bsaK
” Nairaexchangerate (@Nairaexchanger) April 19, 2024
@GabrielNaija wrote:
"Just when you think youve seen it all BOOM, they release another banger. This government is a joke taken too far."
Just when you think youve seen it all BOOM, they release another banger. This government is a joke taken too far.
” Gabriel N. (@GabrielNaija) April 19, 2024
@i_jandor wrote: "They know what they are doing. Like one man said, they all collude.
"Just watch and see, even if he was to be arrested eventually, nothing will come out of the case."
They know what they are doing. Like one man said, they all collude.
Just watch and see, even if he was to be arrested eventually, nothing will come out of the case.
” The Emperor (@i_jandor) April 19, 2024
@Kendo1612 wrote: "Because now they can claim they dont know where he is.
"Exactly what one would do when he doesnt want his vehicle found. Disable the tracking device."
Because now they can claim they dont know where he is. Exactly what one would do when he doesnt want his vehicle found. Disable the tracking device.
” Ntric (@Kendo1612) April 19, 2024
@Tonia_dimma wrote:
"Super story, if they withdraw all security attached to him ododo will supply him with securities because his godfather can not go out without security, and nothing will happen, na Nigeria we dey."
Super story, if they withdraw all security attached to him ododo will supply him with securities because his godfather can not go out without security, and nothing will happen, na Nigeria we dey
” Tonia (@Tonia_dimma) April 18, 2024
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