The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has clarified why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has not yet apprehended the embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

In April 2024, the anti-graft agency declared Bello wanted for alleged financial crime amounting to N80.2 billion.

Despite multiple attempts to arrest him at his residence in Abuja, Bello has managed to evade capture with the help of his successor, Usman Ododo.

Yahaya Bello has also failed to honour a judge’s invitation. Onanuga stated that Bello is currently hiding under the Ododo’s immunity.

In an interview with Channels TV, Onanuga said, “I think it’s a bit complicated. The EFCC is an agency of the Federal Government, and it wants to arrest Yahaya Bello. Yahaya Bello is hiding under the agbada (flowing robe) of the governor of Kogi State, his (Bello’s) successor, who happens to enjoy immunity.

“That’s the problem because if he (Bello) stays inside Governor Ododo’s house, the police cannot do anything because they will be violating that immunity that the man enjoys.

“It’s like a diplomat enjoying certain immunity; you cannot do anything about it. You remember in the UK when they were looking for the Wikileaks man and he went to hide in one embassy in Britain; there was nothing they (security agents) could do, they left him there. I think he later came out and they arrested him.

“It’s the same thing. Ododo enjoys immunity. Yahaya Bello is believed to be hiding there. They cannot storm the place and say they want to arrest him. That’s the problem of the EFCC, and the police cannot help the EFCC.”