The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday allegedly barricaded the house of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello, in Wuse, Abuja.
It was learnt that the EFCC operatives were in the area to arrest the former governor, who had been having issues with the commission even before he left office in February 2024.
It was also gathered that the operatives barred human and vehicular movements in and out of the street leading to the Yahaya Bello’s house.
In March 2024, the anti-graft agency named Yahaya Bello as an accomplice in an alleged corruption case.
Bello’s name was mentioned during the re-arraignment of his nephew, Ali Bello, and a co-defendant for money laundering at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
On February 5, the anti-graft agency amended the charges, raising the number of charges against the younger Bello and his co-defendant, Dauda Suleiman, from 10 to 17.
The prosecution identified the former Kogi Governor as an accomplice in one of the newly introduced counts, but the agency has yet to charge him as a defendant.
In count 1 of the amended charges, the only count that features the name of Bello, the EFCC accused him of conspiring with Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdusalam Hudu in September 2015 to convert over N80 billion belonging to Kogi State to their personal use.
The EFCC also stated in its charge that the former governor and Mr. Hudu were still at large.
Meanwhile, a State High Court sitting in Lokoja on Wednesday restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from arresting, detaining and prosecuting Bello.
Justice I.A Jamil of High Court IV gave the order in a two hour judgement delivered in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 in Lokoja on Wednesday.
The judge argued that infringing on the fundamental human rights of the former Kogi is null and void except as authorised by the Court.
He said, “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.”
Bello had filed a case of a breach of his fundamental human rights by the Anti-graft agency before the state High Court.
He had prayed the court to restrain the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting him unjustly.
The former gov sought for the enforcement of his fundamental right against the EFCC.
Responding, the court restrained the respondents from persecuting the applicant, safe only when it has a reasonable evidence upon proper investigation.
On the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC, the judge said 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,” the judge declared.
The Applicants counsels, S.A. Abbas and MS Yusuf, while speaking with journalists shortly after the judgement, described it as a landmark and a victory for the judiciary.
