By Kenneth Atavti
Chief Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, at the weekend declared that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not in violation of a Kogi high court order secured by Yahaya Bello, former governor of the state.
Falana spoke in reaction to allegations that the EFCC breached a court order restraining the commission from arresting Bello.
Ruling on a fundamental rights suit marked HCL/68/M/2020 and filed by Bello, the Kogi high court presided over by Isa Jamil Abdullahi had restrained the anti-graft agency from “continuing to harass, threaten to arrest or detain” the former governor.
Falana clarified that “the order was made without prejudice to the power of the said federal high court, to make any order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the applicant and the respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination”.
The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said the Kogi court specifically directed the EFCC “to bring before the said Federal high court, or any such appropriate court, such criminal charge, allegation or complaint in respect of whereof the applicant is reasonably believed by the respondent to have committed any offence”.
“Therefore, by filing charges of money laundering of over N80 billion against Mr. Yahaya Bello at the federal high court, the EFCC has diligently complied with the order of the Kogi state high court,” he added.
“In the same vein, the order made by the federal high court for the arrest of Mr. Yahaya Bello for the purpose of his arraignment is equally in line with the order of the Kogi state high court.”
On April 17, the EFCC besieged Bello’s residence in Abuja. During the siege, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the house and was later seen leaving with Bello.
The EFCC subsequently secured a warrant of arrest from the Abuja federal high court against Bello.
The former governor was later declared wanted by the anti-graft agency after failing to show up for his scheduled arraignment in court.
