The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made a significant move by withdrawing its operatives from the home of former governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, amidst allegations of fraud.
The EFCC operatives had been keeping a close watch on Bello’s residence on No 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, with the intention of arresting him. However, they retreated shortly after the current Governor Usmaan Ododo paid a visit and left the premises.
It was unclear whether Governor Ododo, who arrived with his convoy around 2.30pm, met with the former governor or left before the EFCC operatives withdrew.
This development came after a High Court in Lokoja, Kogi issued a restraining order against the EFCC, preventing them from infringing on the fundamental human rights of Alhaji Yahaya Bello. The court specifically prohibited the EFCC from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello without proper authorization.
In a landmark two-hour judgment delivered by Hon. Justice I.A Jamil at High Court 4, the court also stopped the EFCC from continuing to persecute Bello. The court dismissed the EFCC’s challenge on jurisdiction, affirming the validity of the order.
Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s legal team, led by SA Abbas and MS Yusuf, hailed the judgment as a significant victory, while the Defendant Counsel, T.U Odima and Patrick O. Jibril, acknowledged the thoroughness of the court’s decision.
This development marks a crucial moment in the legal battle between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC, highlighting the importance of upholding fundamental rights and due process in the fight against corruption.
