Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The immediate past governor of Benue state, Chief Samuel Ortom PhD has advised Yahaya Bello who just left power as governor of Kogi state to immediately get out of hiding and surrender himself to the EFCC for the probe.
Bello is being wanted for stealing over N80b public funds while he was governor of Kogi state for eight years.
The EFCC has written a formal letter to invite the former governor. They have also invaded his residence to bring him for interrogation but all efforts proves abortive as Bello practically evaded arrests.
But speaking at the Thanksgiving service for his 63rd birthday which held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Regional Headquarters in Makurdi, Chief Ortom advised Bello not to bring shame and insults upon former governors with his evasion of EFCC arrest.
The former Benue governor said it was improper for the former governor to go into hiding when called upon by the anti graft agency to clarify issues bordering on his tenure as governor.
He noted that the act of evading the invitation of the anti graft agency and trying to flee would bring shame and disgrace to former governors.
Ortom said, “let me use this opportunity to advise my younger brother and friend, former governor Yahaya Bello not to disgrace former governors.
“If you are called to come and account for your stewardship by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, go there.
“You do not need to hide from EFCC, you do not need to resist arrest or anything. Go there and explain. EFCC are human beings who are doing their work.
“If they are making inquiries, the laws are there. I have tried to get him on phone, I could not, I tried those around him, I could not. I want him to note, wherever he is, if he can hear me from there, he should go before the EFCC.”
The former governor who lauded his former appointees for celebrating him at 63 said “I did not know that I am still being appreciated after leaving office. This gesture may make me come out of my hibernation.”
He said being in power as governor for eight years was not an easy task given the challenges and restrictions imposed on you and those who wanted to see you, while in power, by security details.