EFFC’s attempt to arraign Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, today proved abortive. The anti-graft agency said it has secured a warrant to arrest him however, the action led to a 12-hour siege at Bello’s Abuja residence yesterday, Wednesday, 17 April.
A High Court in Lokoja has also restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting Bello except as authorized by the court. There was anxiety that police and Department of State Services (DSS) protection for Bello might be withdrawn to allow EFCC to arrest him. A statement by EFCC Head of the Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said Bello will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three others – Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu – on a 19-count charge. It said the allegations border on money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,088.88. The statement said: “Bello’s arraignment is coming on the heels of a warrant of arrest and enrolment order granted to the EFCC by the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.” The statement adds: “The Commission’s attempt to execute the warrant of arrest lawfully obtained against Bello met stiff resistance yesterday. The security cordon around the former governor’s residence in Abuja was breached by the current
Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, who ensured that the suspect was spirited away in his official vehicle. As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment today. It is needful to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible.” EFCC last night said it will no longer tolerate the obstruction of its operations. A separate statement reads: “The EFCC wishes to warn members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years. This warning becomes necessary against the background of the increasing tendency of persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their own hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC. On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order. Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness. The commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organization to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions.”
