• Ex-Kogi governor begs Tinubu to intervene
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Tuesday, stormed the Abuja home of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to arrest him.
The action, we gathered, followed the alleged N84 billion fraud case which the anti-graft agency is currently prosecuting.
Dozens of angry-looking operatives of the anti-graft agency cordoned off Benghazi Street in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja home of the former governor when they laid siege to the house.
In a statement from his media office on Wednesday, the former governor said that EFCC’s move to arrest him was illegal. He added that the anti-graft agency’s move was a violation of the court order.
He argued that the EFCC duly served the court order in February restraining them from arresting or prosecuting him pending the substantive suit filed on his fundamental rights.
Bello added that Nigeria was not a lawless country being portrayed by the EFCC.
He, however, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the EFCC to stop his arrest in the interest of legal integrity.
“About 9:30 am today, the 17th day of April 2024, persons who described themselves as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrived at Wuse Zone 4 Residence of Alhaji Yahaya Bello to effect his arrest.
“This is despite a subsisting order of injunction granted on 9th February 2024, by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello v. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, restraining the Commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.
“The EFCC was duly served with that Order on 12th February 2024 and on 26th February 2024; the EFCC filed an Appeal (Appeal No.: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello) against the said Order to the Court of Appeal Abuja division.
“The Appeal was accompanied by a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Order of the High Court which the Court of Appeal adjourned for hearing till the 22nd day of April 2024.
“Furthermore, judgment in the substantive case between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC is to be delivered at 12 noon today in Lokoja.
“Contrary to all of the above, the EFCC has now laid siege to the home of H.E Yahaya Bello seeking to arrest him in contravention of the 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 the reliefs granted.
“We are aware of the total commitment of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the rule of law and can say categorically that the leadership of the EFCC might have offered the agency on a platter of gold to desperate politicians to convert to their score settling tool without minding the effect on its integrity and the image of Nigeria as regards the rule of law.
“A situation where law enforcers disregard the rule of law is a definite recipe for anarchy, which will adversely affect every aspect of the nation’s economy.
“Nigerians have perceived the desperation of the anti-graft agency to embarrass and harass the former governor by all means through spurious allegations, especially the latest one dating back to September 2015, way before he assumed office.
“We are aware that there are clandestine moves to correct the error, but with even more questionable allegations, which would embarrass the Commission and Nigeria more than the initial one.
“It is unfortunate that an agency that is supposed to enforce the law is now the first culprit with respect to disobedience of court orders. This is a big dent on the fight against corruption. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the EFCC to order in the interest of legal sanity.”
