The Federal Government has placed Yahaya Bello, the immediate-past governor of Kogi state on its watchlist.

Security agencies in the country have been alerted and the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, ordered to arrest him at any entry and exit point.

This was disclosed by the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap, in a memo.

The memo was addressed to the Director General, Department of State Services, DSS, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency, NIA.

The memo which was signed by ACI DS Umar included the details of Bello’s international passport.

It read in part: “I am directed to inform you that the above named person has been placed on watch list.

“Suffice to mention that the subject is being prosecuted before the Federal High Court Abuja for Conspiracy, Breach of Trust and Money Laundering vide letter Ref; CR; 3000/EFCC/LS/EGCS.1/TE/V1/279 dated 18 April 2024. If seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation or contact 08036226329/07039617304 for further action.

“Please accept as always the Comptroller General warmest regards and esteem.”

This comes after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, declared Bello wanted on Thursday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello wanted.

This followed the inability of the former governor to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday for his arraignment over alleged N84bn money laundering.

In a post on its official Facebook page on Thursday, the anti-graft agency urged Nigerians with useful information about Bello’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station.

The post reads, “EFCC Declares Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Wanted. Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 Billion.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest Police Station.”

Ahead of the planned arraignment, operatives of the EFCC, Department of State Services, Police and other security agencies on Wednesday besieged Bello’s Abuja residence.

He was, however, sneaked out of the building by the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo.

A Federal High Court in Kano has halted the suspension of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The ruling came on Wednesday after Ganduje filed an ex parte motion seeking to enforce his fundamental right to fair hearing.

The respondents in the application are the Police, Department of State Services, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and nine others.

On April 16, APC executives in Dawakin Ward, Tofa LGA of Kano State, suspended Ganduje over alleged corruption.

However, the State Working Committee, SWC, of the APC in Kano nullified the suspension and punished the ward executives.

But a Kano High Court presided by Justice Usman Na’Abba upheld the suspension.

In the ex parte order delivered on Wednesday by the Federal High Court and made available to newsmen on Thursday, a Kano High Court presided by Justice A. M Liman ruled that the suspension should not be implemented until the case filed by Ganduje is heard and determined.

“All the respondents, their servants, agents or privies are hereby restrained from implementing and/or giving effect to the purported decision reached during the purported emergency meeting of the alleged executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, held at Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa Local.

“All the parties are hereby mandated to maintain status quo before the purported emergency meeting of the alleged executive members of APC Ganduje Ward, and to stay action in respect of this matter pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application,” Justice Liman said.

The judge subsequently fixed April 30 to hear Ganduje’s suit.