The Court of Appeal in Abuja will today (Monday) hear the appeal brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC against the arrest of Yahaya Bello.
Recall that an order of a Kogi State High Court had restrained the EFCC from arresting the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
There was also a failed attempt to arrest the embattled former Governor by the EFCC last week.
The court in Kogi had in a ruling on February 9, 2024, restrained the EFCC from “inviting, arresting, detaining, prosecuting” Bello. This is pending the determination of a fundamental rights suit filed by Bello before the court.
EFCC is seeking to arraign the ex-Governor on 19 counts. Which borders on money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2bn.
The anti-graft agency is determined to get the former Governor of Kogi State, Bello to face the law for his alleged crime.
To achieve this, EFCC approached the Federal High Court in Abuja last Wednesday to get an arrest warrant. But in a twist, a Federal High Court in Kogi delivered judgment on Bello’s fundamental human rights suit.
But armed with the arrest warrant, EFCC visited Bello’s Abuja home with hopes to get him arrested. The move, however, failed.
As a result of the failed arrest attempt the former Governor could not be arraigned the next day in court. Therefore, the judge, Justice Nwite had to adjourn the arraignment and ruling till Tuesday April 23.
Although Bello was absent to take his plea, his team of lawyers, led by Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), informed the court of the matter before the Appeal Court.
Mohammed told the court that it was wrong for the EFCC to apply for an arrest warrant against Bello. When the same matter was already before the Appeal Court.
EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinehero, argued that the court could go ahead with the trial.
The EFCC, in its appeal through its solicitor, J.S. Okutepa (SAN), is seeking a stay of execution to the order of the trial court in Kogi State.
In the appeal marked CA/ABJ/PRE/RDA/CV/165MI, quoted by The PUNCH, EFCC contested the court order on the grounds that it is a body created by statute. To carry out functions specified in its Establishment Act. And empowered to investigate and prosecute economic crimes as set out under sections 6 and 7 of the EFCC Act.
The EFCC faulted the order of the lower court, describing it as an obstruction.
