The anticipated hearing for the appeal lodged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, seeking to overturn a Kogi State court order preventing the arrest, detention, and prosecution of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, encountered a delay on Monday.
Last Wednesday, a Kogi State High Court judge, I. A Jamil, issued a ruling restraining the EFCC from taking any action against Bello, prompting the appeal by the anti-graft agency.
Following their dissatisfaction with the restraining order, the EFCC sought an arrest warrant from Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja to facilitate Bello’s arraignment, which was granted.
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Justice Nwite, in issuing the arrest warrant, mandated immediate action for the apprehension of the defendant to present him in court for arraignment.
The charges against Bello, totaling nineteen counts, include “allegations of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds amounting to N80.2 billion.”
However, Bello failed to appear in court on April 18 for his scheduled arraignment, leading to the EFCC’s inability to effect his arrest.
The EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinehero, (SAN), informed the court that Bello was shielded from arrest by someone with immunity, thereby thwarting the agency’s efforts.
In an appeal marked CA/ABJ/PRE/RDA/CV/165MI, the EFCC, listed as the appellant, challenges the Kogi court’s order, arguing that the commission, as a statutory body, is mandated to investigate and prosecute economic crimes according to its Establishment Act.
The appeal aims to contest the jurisdiction of the Kogi court in impeding the EFCC’s statutory duties, as outlined in sections 6 and 7 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act.