EFCC set to arrest former Kogi state governor Yahaha Bello grants warrant of arrest over misappropriation of funds

The Federal High Court Sitting in Abuja has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a warrant to arrest the former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello.

The anti-graft obtained the warrant on Wednesday, in preparation for Bello’s arraignment on Thursday.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the warrant on Wednesday afternoon at the EFCC’s instance.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining or prosecuting the ex-governor.

The court gave the directive in a two-hour judgment delivered on Wednesday, at the High Court 4 and presided over by Justice I. A. Jamil, in suit no HCL/68/M/2020.

Justice Jamil restrained the EFCC from infringing on the fundamental human rights of the applicant except as authorised by the Court.

This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given.

Bello had approached the court seeking to enforce his fundamental rights against the anti-graft agency.

The Court equally restrained the respondents from continuing to persecuting the Applicant.

The High Court had earlier dismissed the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC.

Reacting, the Applicant’s Counsel SA Abbas and MS Yusuf, described the judgment as a landmark while the Defendant Counsel, T.U Odima and Patrick O. Jibril also aligned themselves to the judgment, describing it as thorough.

Since the former governor left office, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission beamed its searchlight on him, alleging that he has some questions to answer in connection to the misappropriation of funds belonging to the state government.