Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) laid siege to the residence of former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello in Wuse, Abuja on Wednesday [today].
The state’s sitting governor and Bello’s successor, Ahmed Ododo and his motorcade were seen around the premises.
One of the operatives told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the action had to do with money-laundering charges levelled against the former governor.
EFCC’s spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, could not be reached to confirm the claim.
In March, the EFCC dragged Bello and three alleged accomplices before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an amended charge of N84 billion money laundering.
Reacting to EFCC’s move of Wednesday, the media office of the ex-governor condemned the action and urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC.
It stated that: “the presence of EFCC’s operatives in Bello’s residence negated an injunction granted by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, on Feb. 9.’’
It added that the court granted the injunction in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Bello and the EFCC restraining the EFCC from harassing, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello, pending the determination of a substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.
“The EFCC was duly served with that order on Feb. 12, and on Feb. 26, it filed Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
“The appeal was accompanied by a Motion for a Stay of Execution of the order of the Lokoja High Court, and the Court of Appeal fixed hearing for April 22.
“Furthermore, judgment in the substantive case between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC will be delivered at noon in Lokoja on Wednesday.
“Contrary to all of these, the EFCC has now laid siege to the home of Yahaya Bello, seeking to arrest him in contravention of 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 reliefs granted.
“We are aware of the total commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s current administration to the rule of law,’’ it stated.
In reaction, Yahaya Bello has also called on President Bola Tinubu to call the EFCC to order over alleged flagrant disobedience to court orders.
The former governor, in a statement issued by his media officer, Mr Onogwu Muhammed in Abuja, said “Nigeria is not a lawless country.”
The statement reads: “At about 9:30 am this morning, April 17, persons who identified themselves as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrived the Wuse Zone 4 Residence of Alhaji Yahaya Bello to effect his arrest.
“This is in spite of 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 Bello and the EFCC is to be delivered noon today in Lokoja.
“Contrary to all of the above, the EFCC has now laid siege to the home of the former governor 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.”(NAN)
Isaac Aregbesola
