FORMER BENUE GOVERNOR TELLS YAHAYA BELLO TO COME OUT OF HIDING

The immediate-past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday, asked his counterpart in Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to come out of his hiding and answer his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.

Bello has been having a running issue with the EFCC, which declared him wanted after he failed to show up for arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja where the anti-graft agency filed N80.2bn fraud charges against him.

The Nigerian Immigration Service also placed Bello on watchlist, ordering that he should be arrested anywhere he was found as his whereabout is currently unknown.

Speaking at a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Makurdi, Benue State during the thanksgiving service organised by his aides to mark his 63rd birthday, Ortom advised Bello to come out of hiding.

He said Bello’s continued hiding would bring disgrace to former governors across the country.

Ortom said all Bello needed to do is to go and respond to EFCC instead of hiding and resisting arrest reminding him that the EFCC officials are human beings.
He said he had made every effort to get him on the phone, but could not, and had tried those around him just to advise him to come out of hiding.

Shortly after leaving office in May 2023, the EFCC had invited Ortom and he visited the Markudi office of the anti-graft agency in June 2023.

The former governor appreciated the people of Benue State for their support of his administration throughout his eight-year tenure and for celebrating him on his birthday.

Ortom described his two terms of office as an uneasy task, as he called on the people to always pray for their leaders.

He expressed appreciation to God for His mercies over his life and family, adding that he left the government house a better Christian.