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Claim: Some Facebook users shared an image alleging that Yahaya Bello jumped over a gate to escape EFCC’s detention.
Verdict: False! The circulating image on social media was altered, with the former governor’s head digitally added to the original photo.
Full Text
Yahaya Bello, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, served as the governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC). Notably, he held the distinction of being the youngest governor in the country during his tenure.
His political journey began with a setback in the 2015 APC gubernatorial primary, where he lost to Abubakar Audu, who went on to win the elections but passed away on election day, leading to Mr Bello’s selection as his replacement and subsequent inauguration as governor the following year.
In March 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) levied allegations against Bello, accusing him of financial fraud amounting to over N80 billion. Despite scheduled arraignments at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Mr Bello failed to appear, prompting the EFCC to issue a public notice declaring him wanted.
Subsequently, numerous controversies and rumours have emerged regarding the former governor’s status, including speculation about his arrest. DUBAWA has fact-checked some of the claims. However, new ones emerge.
Recently, DUBAWA traced Facebook accounts that shared another narrative about Mr Bello’s escape from the EFCC. One such account belonged to a Facebook user named Christopher Emmanuel, who shared a post on April 19, 2024, around 5:00 pm, stating, “Disgrace. Honourable Yahaya Bello was seen climbing and crossing the fence.”
Another user, Onyukwu Oge, expressed, “See Yahaya Bello jumping through the fence to escape arrest by the EFCC. How are the mighty being disgraced? Who would ever believe that this bastard can bring himself this low as to climb the fence as his escape route?”
In the comment section, several individuals commented that Yahaya Bello jumped a fence to evade the EFCC.
Omale Ahmed commented, “Very stupid man,” while Jonah Emmanuel replied, “He has not seen anything yet. It’s just the beginning, and he should better surrender himself on a low key rather than deceiving himself because he can’t run anywhere. He better go and surrender because all eyes are on him because 84 billion is not a joke.”
Mfon Williams also added, “Yahaya Bello, you can’t escape. Imagine a disgrace. Immediate past Executive Governor of a state, jumping the fence to escape the law. Didn’t anyone inform him that the Code of Conducts Bureau CCB was still effective in Nigeria? Bello or whatever you are called, respect yourself and turn up. If you are jumping a fence, what will your children jump? You must be apprehended.”
Additionally, several other Facebook users shared the same claim, corroborating the narrative. See here, here, here, here, and here.
While acknowledging the necessity for the law to take its course amidst the controversy, DUBAWA endeavoured to verify the validity of this claim.
Verification
Upon examining the shared image, several discrepancies emerged. Notably, the face and body of the person crossing over the fence were oddly discoloured, and there was a noticeable misalignment between them. Furthermore, the expression on the face appeared unusually calm.
Utilising Google Lens on the circulated photo, DUBAWA was redirected to a news report by Infostride featuring the same image of a gate with three individuals attempting to scale it. The report highlighted the blockade of the National Assembly, orchestrated by the police to prevent the speaker of the House of Representatives nine years ago, Aminu Tambuwal, from entering the assembly complex.
Another report uncovered the original photo of the individual who scaled the gate not to be Bello. Additionally, the police force shared a report by Channels TV on November 21, 2014, condemning the actions of APC lawmakers who jumped over the gate to enter the National Assembly in Abuja on November 20, 2014. This suggests that the image in question was an old one that was repurposed to depict the recent incident involving the former governor of Kogi State.
So, who is depicted in the image? The actual individual seen scaling the gate is identified as Usman Cheche.
Real image of Usman Cheche on November 20, 2014, forcefully crossing over the National Assembly gate.
Cheche, a representative of the Bida-Gbako-Katcha federal constituency of Niger State, served in the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015. In November 2014, Cheche and other members of the House resorted to climbing the gate of the National Assembly complex after being denied entry by the police.
It appears that Mr Bello’s face was superimposed onto the original photo of Cheche scaling the gate.
Conclusion
While it is true that the EFCC has declared Mr Bello wanted for financial fraud, the claim that he was seen jumping a fence to escape being caught by operatives is false. DUBAWA’s search revealed that the image circulating was old and had been altered to misinform people.
The researcher produced this fact-check per the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, in partnership with Prime Progress, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
