The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, has denied disobeying court order in its bid to arrest and arraign former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello over the N80 billion money laundering charges pending against him.
Acting Director of EFCC’s Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, responding to allegations of violating a court concerning Mr Bello, explained in a statement on Monday that the order of the Kogi State High Court in Lokoja obtained by the former governor to shield him from arrest has no relevance to the criminal charges against him.
“Bello sought refuge in a fundamental rights enforcement action through an order granted by Justice Isa Jamil Abdulallahi of the Kogi State High Court, the order did not vitiate or nullify an order made by the Federal High Court for the arrest of the former governor for the purpose of his arraignment.
“The enrolled Order of the Kogi State High Court only granted an order to enforce Bello’s right to personal liberty and freedom of movement, it didn’t preclude the Federal High Court to make any Order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the Applicant and the Respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination,” Mr Uwujaren said.
EFCC, on 17 April, obtained a court warrant from the Federal High Court in Abuja for Bello’s arrest.
That same day, the commission made futile efforts to execute the arrest warrant at his residence in Abuja. EFCC operatives who arrived at Mr Bello’s residence in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja in their numbers to carry out his arrest were obstructed by police personnel attached to the house.
However the effort was in futility when Bello was reportedly sneaked away in the official vehicle of the incumbent Governor Usman Ododo, who suddenly emerged on the scene mid-way into the stand-off.
Mr Bello refused to show up for his scheduled arraignment before the trial judge, Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on 18 April, the day after EFCC’s failed efforts to arrest him.
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His legal team argued during the stalled proceedings that the court lacked the jurisdiction to conduct the trial on the grounds of a subsisting court order restraining EFCC from arresting and detaining the former governor.
Hours after the proceedings, EFCC declared Mr Bello wanted, calling on members of the public with useful information about him to contact its offices.
EFCC maintained in its statement on Monday that the order obtained by Mr Bello had no bearing on the criminal case filed against the defendant, so it did no wrong trying to arrest him.
“The case before the Federal High Court is a criminal charge which is different from the fundamental rights enforcement action that is the subject of an appeal. EFCC is a creation of law and will not fight corruption outside the law.
“What has happened in the instant case is the Commission dutifully following the dictates of the law to attempt to bring to justice a former political office holder who is working assiduously to evade justice. The order of the Federal High Court gives the Commission power to arrest Yahaya Bello,” Uwujaren said.
He also stated that despite challenges that the commission “daily faces in the execution of its mandate, and the irritation by those paid to distract it, EFCC will not relent in its quest to wrestle corruption to the ground.”
He added, “This moment offers the opportunity to genuine patriots to lend their voices in support of the efforts of the Commission.
“While we are not averse to criticisms, such must be constructive. As things stand, Bello is a fugitive of the law. That is not a badge of honor. It is in his interest, and that of justice, that he turns himself in and answers to the charges preferred against him,” he added.
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