The Nigeria Police Force has detained a female police officer who served as the aide-de-camp to former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
The ADC was arrested alongside other police officers assigned to Bello and currently held at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja.
Their detention comes after the inspector general of police, Olukayode Egbetokun, issued an order on Thursday night for their immediate withdrawal from Bello’s service.
Sources within the police, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorisation, stated that the officers were apprehended under suspicion of assisting Bello’s escape from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives attempting to arrest him at his Abuja residence on Wednesday.
“The ADC and the other police details attached to Yahaya Bello have been arrested and detained.
“They were arrested on the order of the IG, on the suspicion that they aided and abetted the former governor’s escape from the EFCC on Wednesday,” the source told The Punch.
Egbetokun’s directive to withdraw all police personnel from Bello’s detail was transmitted through a police wireless message, as seen on Friday.
Also, the federal government placed Bello on a watch list on Thursday night, citing allegations of conspiracy, breach of trust, and money laundering. The Nigeria Immigration Service issued the directive, instructing relevant agencies to arrest Bello if spotted at any entry or exit point.
Prior to these developments, the EFCC had declared Bello wanted for alleged money laundering activities totaling N80,246,470,088.88.
Despite the charges brought against him, Bello failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, leading to his arraignment in absentia alongside three other suspects.
It was previously reported that the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, assisted Bello in evading arrest by EFCC operatives on Wednesday.
