Court restrains EFCC from arresting, detaining ex-governor Yahaya Bello
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja on Wednesday restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, detaining and prosecuting former governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi.
The judge, I.A Jamil, gave the order in a two-hour judgement delivered in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Wednesday.
The judgement coincided with the invasion of Mr Bello’s home in Abuja by EFCC operatives in a bid to arrest him on Wednesday.
The judge barred the commission from infringing on the fundamental human rights of the former Kogi State governor, and ruled that the commission’s step aimed at arresting him is null and void.
“By this order, the EFCC is hereby restrained from arresting, detaining, and prosecuting the applicant except as authorised by the court.
“This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given,” he said.
Mr Bello had filed a case of a breach of his fundamental human rights by the Anti-graft agency before the state High Court.
The former governor had prayed for an order restraining the EFCC from arresting, detecting and prosecuting him unjustly.
Mr Bello, sought for the enforcement of his fundamental right against the EFCC.
The court, consequently, restrained the respondents from persecuting the applicant, safe only when it has reasonable evidence upon proper investigation.
On the issue of jurisdiction, the judge dismissed EFCC’s objection, saying it had failed and so was dismissed.
“This honourable court has jurisdiction to entertain this application.
“Therefore, the substantive issues of fundamental human rights sought by the applicant succeeds, ” he declared .
Speaking to journalists, Mr Bello’s counsel, S.A. Abbas and MS Yusuf, described the judgement as a landmark and a victory to the judiciary.
Kogi’s Gov. Ododo visits embattled predecessor as EFCC visits latter’s Abuja home
Ex-Gov. Bello
Kogi’s Gov. Usman Ododo visited his embattled predecessor Alhaji Yahaya Bello at his Abuja residence on Wednesday as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) laid siege to the property.
Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence alongside several security operatives and youthful supporters protesting against the siege to the former governor’s home by the EFCC.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the residence observed the heavy presence of armed operatives of the EFCC, policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services, and Bello’s private security team.
Ododo later departed from the premises while EFCC operatives still kept vigil there.
EFCC operatives laid siege to Bello’s property in connection with money laundering charges levelled against the erstwhile governor.
In March, the EFCC dragged Bello and three alleged accomplices before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an amended charge of N84 billion money laundering.
Reacting to EFCC’s move of Wednesday, the media office of the ex-governor condemned the action and urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC.
It stated that: “the presence of EFCC’s operatives in Bello’s residence negated an injunction granted by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, on Feb. 9.’’
It added that the court granted the injunction in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Bello and the EFCC restraining the EFCC from harassing, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello, pending the determination of a substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.
“The EFCC was duly served with that order on Feb. 12, and on Feb. 26, it filed Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
“The appeal was accompanied by a Motion for a Stay of Execution of the order of the Lokoja High Court, and the Court of Appeal fixed hearing for April 22.
“Contrary to all of these, the EFCC laid siege to the home of Yahaya Bello, seeking to arrest him in contravention of extant orders.
“It is a surprise that an agency led by a lawyer could flagrantly disobey a subsisting court order by taking actions contrary to reliefs granted.
“We are aware of the total commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s current administration to the rule of law,’’ it stated. (NAN)
