Some youths in Kogi State on Tuesday protested against plans by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello over alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
The youths, who gathered in their numbers, barricaded the popular Lokoja-Abuja road which caused gridlock on the highway.
They protested under the auspices of the Coalition of Civil Society for Democracy, and Africa Youths Coalition for Justice, accusing the anti-graft agency of witch-hunting and victimizing the former Governor.
They were seen carrying banners with various inscriptions, “Nigeria is not a banana republic”, “President Tinubu, call EFCC to order”, “EFCC stop witch hunting”, “Yahaya Bello remains a responsible citizen”, “EFCC obey court order now” and many more.
This development followed the argument and counter-argument regarding whether the EFCC had disobeyed court order and insists on arresting the immediate past governor of Kogi State after it was alleged that he laundered N80.2b
The anti craft agency reacting on the controversy in a press statement signed by the EFCC’s acting Director, Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, pointed out that though Bello sought refuge in a fundamental rights enforcement action through an order granted by Justice Isa Abdulallahi of the Kogi State High Court.
However, it’s worth knowing that the order did not nullify the initial order made by the federal high court which necessitates his arrest for the purpose of his arraignment.
Uwujaren said, “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.
“The order made by the Federal High Court for the arrest of Mr. Yahaya Bello, for the purpose of his arraignment, is not in conflict with the order of the Kogi State High Court. The case before the Federal High Court is a criminal charge that is different from the fundamental rights enforcement action that is the subject of an appeal”.
Recall that it has been on news that the incumbent governor of Kogi state, Usman Ododo, last Wednesday helped his embattled predecessor to escape arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who invaded his home on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, on Wednesday morning.
The anti-graft agency had named Bello in an amended N80 billion money laundering charge filed against Governor Ododo’s Chief of Staff, Alli Bello.
Bello have since been on the run since the invasion, this got many people questioning his integrity as he ought to have surrendered to the anti-graft agency and prove himself innocence if at all there is no skeleton in his cupboard.
