EFCC bows to court order, withdraws from Yahaya Bello’s home

“By this order, the EFCC is hereby restrained from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant."

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EFCC bows to court order, withdraws from Yahaya Bello’s homeThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn its operatives from the home of former governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over alleged fraud.
The EFCC operatives had on Wednesday mounted surveillance around the home of Bello on No 9 Benghazi Street ,Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, apparently to effect his arrest.
The EFCC operatives retreated shortly after the sitting Gov Usmaan Ododo, who paid him a visit departed around 4.30.pm.
It was however not clear wether Ododo, who had arrived the premises of the governor with his convoy around 2.30pm went the former governor or left him behind.
BRANDPOWER learnt that the withdrawal of the operatives of EFCC was as a result of court order, which  restraint the commission from arresting, detaining or prosecuting the former Kogi governor
A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi had on Wednesday restrained the EFCC from infringing on the fundamental human rights of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor.
In a two hour judgment delivered on Wednesday, at the High Court 4 and presided over by Hon. Justice I.A Jamil, in suit no HCL/68/M/2020, the court restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant except as authorised by the Court.
This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given.
The judgment followed the suit brought before the court by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the applicant, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Court equally restrained the respondents from continuing to persecute the Applicant.
Earlier in the judgment, the Court dismissed the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC.
The Applicant’s Counsel SA Abbas and MS Yusuf, described the judgment as landmark while the
Defendant Counsel, T.U Odima and Patrick O. Jibril also aligned themselves to the judgment, describing it as thorough

What the court said

A High Court sitting in Lokoja on Wednesday restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, detaining and prosecuting former governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi.

Justice I.A Jamil, gave the order in a two hour judgment delivered in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 in Lokoja on Wednesday.

The judge held that infringing on the fundamental human rights of the former Kogi is null and void except as authorised by the Court.

“By this order, the EFCC is hereby restrained from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant.

“This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given, ” he said.

Bello had filed a case of a breach of his fundamental human rights by the Anti-graft agency before the state High Court.

The former governor had prayed for an order restraining the EFCC from arresting, detenting and prosecuting him unjustly

Bello, sought for the enforcement of his fundamental right against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Consequently, the Court restrained the respondents from persecuting the applicant, safe only when it has a reasonable evidence upon proper investigation.

On the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC, the judge said it had failed and so was dismissed.

“This honourable court has jurisdiction to entertain this application.

“Therefore, the substantive issues of fundamental human rights sought by the applicant succeeds, ” he declared .

Speaking to newsmen, Bello’s counsel, S.A. Abbas and MS Yusuf, described the judgment as a landmark and a victory to the judiciary.

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