Court Order Empowers EFCC to Arrest Yahaya Bello by Force, Says SAN

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kayode Adeluola, asserted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) possesses the legal authority to employ force in the arrest of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, provided there is a valid court order backing such action. His statement follows an incident on Wednesday where EFCC officials surrounded Bello’s residence in Abuja, prompting his successor, Ahmed Ododo, to intervene and facilitate Bello’s departure to prevent arrest.

Despite a subsequent restraining order issued by a Kogi State High Court in Lokoja prohibiting the EFCC from arresting and detaining the ex-governor, Adeluola maintained that if there exists a substantive court order justifying Bello’s arrest, the EFCC is entitled to use force. He emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law, even in cases involving high-profile individuals with significant support bases.

During an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Adeluola acknowledged the complexity arising from conflicting court orders but stressed that adherence to lawful procedures is paramount. He called for accountability for any wrongful actions and emphasized the need to address the legal implications of the situation involving Yahaya Bello and the EFCC.