Claim: A WhatsApp user has circulated a fabricated image to depict the former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello dressed in a blue women’s attire to escape the arrest of financial crimes by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Verdict: MISLEADING. Findings reveal that the Images of Governor Yahaya Bello dressed in a woman’s dress were manipulated. The original image was the late wife of former senate president, Ken Nnamani.
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On April 17, 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, traced Governor Yahaya Bello to his Wuse residence in Abuja to arrest him for alleged money Laundering.
But the arrest was outsmarted by Yahaya Bello with the support of the incumbent Governor of Kogi state, Usman Ododo
Subsequently, on April 18th, 2024. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC declared former Governor Yahaya Bello wanted.
The EFCC has charged the former governor with financial fraud to the tune of 84 billion naira, in an amended charge.
Bello was accused by the EFCC of diverting 80 billion naira of state funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed office, he assumed office as governor in January 2016.
The EFCC also had sued Bello before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for alleged N84 billion money laundering.
The story took another dimension when Some youths in Kogi State protested the planned arrest of former Governor Yahaya Bello by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The youths, under the auspices of the Coalition of Civil Society for Democracy, and Africa Youths Coalition for Justice, gathered in their scores and barricaded the Lokoja-Abuja Road which caused gridlock on the federal highway.
On Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urged the Federal High Court Abuja and parties to help determine the whereabouts of the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who is facing an N80.2 billion money laundering charge alongside his nephew, Ali Bello, and others.
EFCC lawyer, Kemi Piniero (SAN), told Justice Emeka Nwite not to hear any application from Bello’s legal team until he shows up in court to take his plea.
The EFCC had obtained a warrant of arrest from the court against Bello. However, his whereabouts are unknown and has been declared wanted by the police and immigration service.
Ever since he was declared wanted, manipulated images have circulated on WhatsApp groups allegedly that former governor Yahaya Bello was dressed like a woman to flee the country to outsmart his arrest.
Image Source: Screenshot of the WhatsApp post
The Vitality of the post on WhatsApp group and statues on April 24, 2024. make Dubawa verify it.
Verification
We conducted a Google Reverse image search on the image used to depict Yahaya Bello dressed like a woman and we discovered that the original image was that of the late wife of the former senate president, Ken Nnamani, Jane Nnamani posted online on May 7th, 2023, by an online blog Nigerianewsleader
Image Source: NigeriaNewsleader
We also found the same image in the story published by Qed. ng over the death of the former senate president Ken Nnamani’s wife in May 2023.
According to the publication by the online blogs, the image was used to announce the official burial of Ken Nnamani’s wife.
Conclusion
Our findings show that the image purportedly used to depict Yahaya Bello dressed in a woman’s Attire is a manipulated image of Former Senator Ken Nnamani’s Late wife. The image circulating on WhatsApp is misleading.
The researcher produced this fact-check for the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, in partnership with Olufisoye Adenitan, FRCN positive fm Akure Ondo state Nigeria, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country