The Federal High Court Sitting in Abuja has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) permission to arrest the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, preparatory to his arraignment on Thursday.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the warrant this afternoon at the instance of the EFCC.
Meanwhile, in a conflicting judgment, a High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from infringing on the fundamental human rights of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor.
The judgment followed an earlier siege on the Governor’s residence in Abuja, whence he was reportedly whisked away by his successor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
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 persecuting the Applicant.
Earlier in the judgement, 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.
