Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and is set to appear in court today to face charges of fraud amounting to ₦80.2 billion.

Bello, who had reportedly been in hiding since April 2024, was arrested on Tuesday at around 12:55 p.m. and brought to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. Contrary to earlier reports suggesting he surrendered voluntarily, EFCC operatives confirmed that he was apprehended following extensive intelligence gathering.

“You think that man is ready to be taken to court? He was nabbed by our tactical operatives,” an EFCC detective told Daily Trust, dismissing claims that Bello drove himself to the commission’s office.

Bello faces allegations of misappropriating public funds during his tenure as governor, with the EFCC declaring him wanted on 18 April 2024. The charges include money laundering, leading to his trial in absentia at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The court had previously adjourned the case to 27 November after the EFCC sought an extension to allow Bello time to respond to summons issued against him. His co-defendants in the case were earlier granted administrative bail.

The EFCC has yet to release an official statement on Bello’s detention, but detectives continued to interrogate him at the time of this report.

This high-profile case underscores the EFCC’s renewed focus on tackling financial corruption among former public officials.