- Tinubu’s Aide Asks Ex Kogi Gov To Surrender, Get A Good Lawyer
- EFCC Declares Ex Gov Wanted, Mulls Using Military To Fish Him Out From Hiding
- Bello Speaks From Hiding, Says Case Against Him Political Witch-Hunt
- FG Flays Ododo For Assisting Bello To Evade Arrest
The drama surrounding the former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello in the alleged N80.2bn fraud case has assumed another worrisome dimension.
The Matrix reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC operatives on Wednesday laid siege to Bello’s residence in Abuja.
The former governor has been under the commission’s watch for alleged economic and financial crimes while in office.
Two courts of competent jurisdiction gave different judgements on the matter on Wednesday.
The Kogi State High Court, Lokoja, in a ruling delivered by Justice I.A. Jamil, restrained the EFCC from arresting the former governor.
However, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, gave the commission the go-ahead to arrest Bello preparatory to his arraignment in court for alleged corruption.
However, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at Bello’s residence and was said to have aided his predecessor to escape justice.
At the trial on Thursday, Bello was absent at the court which prompted the EFCC to declare the ex-governor wanted in a notice posted on its Facebook page on Thursday.
It wrote: “Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2bn.
“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.”
At the resumed sitting, counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that the immediate past governor of Kogi State was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.
Phinro said the anti-graft agency might seek the help of the military to fish him out to come face his arraignment.
Reacting to this, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, charges Bello to surrender himself to the EFCC.
Onanuga’s advice to the former governor was shared on X.
READ ALSO: Ododo Backs Yahaya Bello as EFCC Lay Siege on Ex-Governor’s House
“Yahaya Bello, where will you run to? It’s better you submit yourself to the EFCC and get a good lawyer,” the presidential aide wrote.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has faulted Ododo for obstructing the arrest of his predecessor Bello, by operatives of the EFCC.
Fagbemi said it’s “insufferably disquieting” for Ododo to obstruct EFCC from arresting Bello.
Fagbemi said EFCC should not be obstructed from carrying out its lawful duties.
In a statement he personally signed, the AGF said: “A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting.
“A flight from the law does not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbates it.
READ ALSO: Alleged N80.2b Fraud: EFCC Declares Yahaya Bello Wanted
“I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC and indeed any other agency to order when there is indication of any transgression of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies but I also tenaciously hold the view that institutions of State should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.”
Meanwhile, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad, told the court that there is an order restraining the EFCC from arresting or arraigning him.
Muhammad said a Kogi State High Court had on February 9, 2024 restrained the EFCC from arresting or arraigning the former governor.
He added that the EFCC has appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal was yet to decide on the matter.
He pointed out that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain any charge from the EFCC.
Counsel for the EFCC, however, disagreed with the submission of the counsel to Bello.
READ ALSO: Yahaya Bello Freezes Kogi State Govt Accounts
The EFCC counsel held that the ruling in the substantive matter on the suit was delivered on March 17, 2024 by the Kogi State High Court.
He cleared the air that the court in its ruling held that for the former governor to be arrested or arraigned, the EFCC must first seek leave from the court to do so.
He said it was in line with that judgment that the EFCC, through an ex parte application, filed for the order seeking the arrest of the former governor which was granted by the court.
Counsel for Yahaya Bello, however, insisted before the court that the order for the ex-governor’s arrest was made out of jurisdiction. He said the former governor is not a fugitive, but relying on the order of the Kogi State High Court to take protection.
