The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has urged the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to heed the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the court of law.

According to the group, it has become necessary for Bello to clear himself of the allegations of financial malfeasance while in office.

The EFCC had filed 19 criminal counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.246 billion before a Federal High Court in Abuja against the former governor and others.

In a statement issued on Sunday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the stand-off between the former governor and the EFCC as unnecessary, saying it is an affront to the sanctity of the law and the integrity of President Bola Tinubu’s war against corruption.

The statement said: “We have carefully watched all the drama and subterfuge that continue to trail the invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Governor Yahaya Bello, a senior member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the curious attempts to politicize the routine matter of the request by the graft-fighting agency to ask former Governor Bello to meet with its investigators.

“For us, the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, asking the former Kogi governor to subject himself to EFCC’s scrutiny is a clear signal in this regard, not only on the position of law but also on the stance of the President Bola Tinubu administration on anti-corruption.

“It should be clear by now to all Nigerians that strict accountability in governance occupies a cardinal place in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. To serve this purpose, his government has shown zero tolerance to cases of corruption since assuming office.”

EFCC operatives had laid siege to Bello’s house to arrest him.

But the Kogi governor prevented the EFCC personnel from arresting the embattled former governor, Bello. Ododo subsequently whisked Bello out of the area in his official vehicle.

However, the Commission in a statement on the issue, said it would no longer tolerate obstruction during its operations.

It said the warning was necessary due to the increasing tendency of some persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to “take the law into their own hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC”.

In another statement, the agency said, “The Commission’s attempt to execute the Warrant of Arrest lawfully obtained against Bello met stiff resistance on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

“The security cordon around the former governor’s residence in Abuja was breached by the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo who ensured that the suspect was spirited away in his official vehicle.

“As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

“It is needful to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible.”