THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a warrant for the arrest of Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, from a Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, another judgment from the Kogi State High Court prevented the commission from enforcing the arrest.
The Abuja order was in preparation for his planned arraignment on Thursday, April 18, though he had not yet been arrested as of the time this report was filed.
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Ododo reportedly smuggles Bello out
Reports say the Kogi State governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has smuggled out the former governor.
Ododo drove into Bello’s residence while the EFCC surrounded the building Wednesday afternoon.
According to reports, the development forced the commission’s operatives to leave Bello’s residence.
Gunshots allegedly rented the air while the former governor was being smuggled out of the premises by his successor, widely believed to be his kinsman.
An EFCC official could be overheard speaking with someone suspected to be his superior on the phone, stating that Bello was inside Ododo’s car, which departed, as reported by The Cable.
The ICIR reported how the commission’s operatives laid siege on Bello’s Abuja home on Wednesday in an attempt to arrest him.
Confusion as Kogi, Abuja courts issues conflicting judgements
Emeka Nwite, a justice of the Federal High Court, granted Bello’s arrest warrant on Wednesday, April 17, at the EFCC’s request.
The Abuja ruling contradicted the judgement obtained by Bello in Kogi State.
The Kogi order restrained the commission from arresting, detaining, and prosecuting the state’s former governor.
The State High Court in Lokoja, presided over by Judge I.A. Jamil, declared on Wednesday, that encroaching upon the fundamental human rights of the former Kogi was invalid unless authorised by the court.
Although the EFCC had challenged the court’s jurisdiction over the case, the judge ruled that it did have jurisdiction over the case, contrary to the EFCC’s claim.
“This honourable court has jurisdiction to entertain this application.
“Therefore, the substantive issues of fundamental human rights sought by the applicant succeed,” the judge said.
He gave the order of restrainment in a two-hour judgment delivered in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 in Lokoja.
“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,” the presiding judge said.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M