Federal High Court Grants EFCC Warrant to Apprehend Yahaya Bello

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a warrant to arrest Yahaya Bello, the former Kogi State governor.

The warrant was issued based on an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in his ruling, instructed that Bello be brought before him on Thursday, April 18, for arraignment, stating:

It is hereby ordered as follows: That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing and/or issuing a warrant for the immediate arrest of the defendant to bring him before this honourable court for arraignment.

That case is adjourned to the 18th day of April 2024 for arraignment.

This comes as a Kogi State High Court in Lokoja granted an order restraining the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the ex-governor.

A video circulating earlier on Wednesday showed that operatives of the EFCC had laid siege to Bello’s house in Wuse, Abuja, prompting him to file a case of a breach of his rights by the agency before the state High Court.

In its ruling, the state court declared that any infringement upon the ex-governor’s rights is invalid unless specifically authorised by the court.

By this order, the EFCC is hereby restrained from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant except as authorised by the court.

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

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