Appeal Court Fails to Hear EFCC’s Case Against Yahaya Bello Arrest Order

The Court of Appeal in Abuja failed to convene on Monday to address the appeal brought forth by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a ruling by a Kogi High Court. This ruling had restrained the EFCC from apprehending the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

The Kogi High Court’s ruling, issued on April 17 by Judge I. A Jamil in Lokoja barred the EFCC from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello. This decision arose in response to a lawsuit (suit no HCL/68/M/2020) filed in Lokoja, the state’s capital.

Interestingly, this ruling coincided with an incident where EFCC operatives attempted to arrest Bello at his residence in Abuja. The EFCC has been pursuing Bello in connection with allegations of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds totaling N80.2 billion.

In response to the Kogi court’s decision, the EFCC sought an arrest warrant from the Federal High Court in Abuja on the same day. Justice Emeka Nwite, in granting the warrant through an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC, ordered Bello’s production before the court for arraignment on Thursday, April 18.