Yahaya Bello Absent As Court Adjourns, EFCC Mulls Military’s Help To Fish Him Out 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has moved the case against Yahaya Bello, the immediate-ex-Gov. of Kogi State, to April 23, 2024, thanks to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja.

Bello’s alleged N84bn money laundering is the subject of the adjournment’s substituted service and possible arraignment.

The EFCC’s attorney, Kemi Phinro, informed the court that the immediate former governor of Kogi State was unable to appear in court for his arraignment because he was being protected by an immunity-protected person at the resumed sitting.

According to Porinro, the former governor was given immunity and was taken out of his Abuja residence by the same person.

Porro asserted that the anti-graft organization might enlist the military to help him when he is detained.

Yahaya Bello responded to this assertion by telling the court that an order was in place to prevent the EFCC from apprehending or arraigning him through his attorney, Abdulwahab Muhammad.

The EFCC was prevented from arresting or arraigning the former governor, according to Muhammad Muhammad.

He added that the Court of Appeal was yet to rule on the matter and that the EFCC had filed an appeal.

He argued that the EFCC’s action was unlawful, and the court lacked the authority to hear any EFCC-related charges.

Counsel for the EFCC, however, disagreed with the submission of the counsel to Bello.

The Kogi State High Court delivered the ruling on March 17, 2024, according to the EFCC’s attorney.

He clarified that the court’s ruling required the EFCC to first request court permission before arraigning or arresting the former governor.

He claimed that the EFCC filed an exparte application for the court’s decision, which was in accordance with that judgment.

Counsel for Yahaya Bello, however, insisted before the court that the order for the ex-governor’s arrest was made out of jurisdiction. He claimed that the former governor relied on the Kogi State High Court’s protection order to protect him rather than a fugitive.

Whisked Out by Yahaya Bello

EFCC attempted to arrest former governor Yahaya Bello on Wednesday, but the former governor was later confirmed to have been whisked away by his successor, who had taken over his residence in the Wuse area of Abuja.

Following that, the EFCC issued a public safety notice that it is illegal to impede the Commission’s officers from carrying out their legal responsibilities.

According to the Commission’s spokesperson, it is illegal to obstruct officers of the Commission from performing their legal duties under Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act.

He believes that those responsible face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

In response to this provocation, the Commission’s employees have had to exercise the utmost restraint on numerous occasions to prevent a breakdown in law and order.

“Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

The Commission, therefore, warns that it will no longer tolerate any attempts to obstruct its operation because doing so will result in appropriate punitive measures, the statement continued.

Charges Against Bello

Bello  has been a target of the EFCC’s insistent arraignment. before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19- count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246,470, 088. 88( Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).

Following the court’s order to issue an arrest warrant and enrolment on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, Bello’s arraignment follows.

“Count one of the charges reads: That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu( Still at large), sometime, in February, 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80, 246,470, 088. 88( Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended”.

According to Count 17 of the charges, it was stated that Yahaya Bello, acting within the authority of this Honourable Court, assisted E-Traders International Limited in concealing the aggreagate sum of N3081,804,654 between July 26th, 2021 and April 6, 2022 in Abuja. 00( Three Billion, Eighty One Million Eight Hundred and Four Thouand Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) in account numbder 1451458080 domiciled in Access BankPlc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.

According to Count 18 of the charges, Yahaya Adoza Bello in Abuja during the course of this Honorable Court’s authority, obtained the sum of $ 570,330 from E-Traders International Limited. You allegedly owe $500 (five hundred and seven thousand dollars), $3,000 (three hundred and thirty dollars), to account number 4266644272, which is domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, where you allegedly owe money to fund unlawful activity, including a criminal breach of trust, and you subsequently committed an offence against Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable by Section 15(3) of the same Act.

On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, the Commission said its attempt to carry out the warrant of arrest that Bello had obtained was met with fierce opposition.

The current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, broke the security cordon around the former governor’s Abuja residence and took him to his designated vehicle. As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Bello is not above the law, and he will be brought to justice as soon as possible, according to the needful statement. ”

Conflicting Orders

Meanwhile, there was conflicting court order over the arrest of the Kogi former governor on Wednesday.

One of the rulings, which came from a Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja,  restrained the EFCC  from arresting, detaining or prosecuting Bello.

Justice I . In accordance with the Court’s authorization, Jamil, who issued the order in a two-hour ruling on Wednesday, declared that all other crimes against the former Kogi are null and void.

The EFCC is hereby prohibited from detaining, arresting, and prosecuting the applicant in accordance with this order, unless otherwise permitted by the Court.

He claimed that this is a definitive ruling in response to the earlier interim injunction.

The EFCC, however,   obtained permission  the former governor of Kogi State to the Federal High Court in Abuja in order to hold his arraignment on Thursday.

At the request of the EFCC, Justice Emeka Nwite issued the warrant this afternoon.

Source: Channels TV