Drama as police stop EFCC from arresting ex-Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello

There was mild drama on Wednesday at the residence of the former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello as personnel of the Nigerian Police Force attached to former governor and 2023 Presidential aspirant clashed with armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC who wanted to arrest him on corruption-related charges

The EFCC arrived Bello’s Wuse Zone 4 residence in Abuja at about 9 am and have maintained a siege in an attempt to arrest him.

The police and supporters of Bello gathered at his residence are saying they will resist the EFCC for as long as it takes.

Bello who has been under EFCC investigation over allegations of misappropriation of billions of Naira in public funds had secured an interim injunction restraining the anti-graft agency from arresting, detaining, prosecuting or persecuting him, his former appointees, staff or family members pending determination of a substantive originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

The EFCC appealed the order. In a brief argument filed on behalf of the Commission by Jibrin Okutepa, the EFCC argued that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction and that the order it granted will only aid Bello escape invitation, investigation and possible prosecution.

It further argued that whatever order made when the court lacks jurisdiction is null and void; and wants the Court of Appeal to set it aside.

The EFCC operatives however retreated from arresting Yahaya Bello shortly after the sitting Governor of Kogi state, Usmaan Ododo, who paid him a visit departed around 4.30.pm.

It was however not clear whether Ododo, who had arrived at the premises of the governor with his convoy around 2.30 pm went with the former governor or left him behind.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the withdrawal of the operatives of EFCC was as a result of court order, which  restraint the commission from arresting, detaining or prosecuting the former Kogi governor

A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi had on Wednesday restrained the EFCC from infringing on the fundamental human rights of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor.

In a two hour judgment delivered on Wednesday, at the High Court 4 and presided over by Hon. Justice I.A Jamil, in suit no HCL/68/M/2020, the court restrained the EFCC 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 judgment followed the suit brought before the court by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the applicant, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The Court equally restrained the respondents from continuing to persecute the Applicant.

Earlier in the judgment, the Court dismissed the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC.

The Applicant’s Counsel SA Abbas and MS Yusuf, described the judgment as landmark while the

Defendant Counsel, T.U Odima and Patrick O. Jibril also aligned themselves to the judgment, describing it as thorough.