A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a warrant to apprehend Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State.
This warrant, issued following an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC, mandates the former governor’s arrest.
In his ruling on the motion, Justice Emeka Nwite also directed that Yahaya Bello be brought before him on Thursday, April 18, for arraignment.
He said, “It is hereby ordered as follows:
“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing and/or issuing a warrant for the immediate arrest of the defendant to bring him before this honourable court for arraignment.
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“That case is adjourned to the 18th day of April 2024 for arraignment.”
Earlier, a Lokoja High Court had issued an injunction restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting the immediate past governor of Kogi State.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, intervened on Wednesday to facilitate the escape of the embattled former governor from arrest by EFCC operatives.
Our correspondent, present at the ex-governor’s residence, witnessed Ododo’s arrival accompanied by heavy security around 2:30 pm on Wednesday. Approximately two hours later, precisely at 4:20 pm, Ododo’s convoy departed with Bello in the governor’s vehicle.
Subsequently, about 10 minutes after the departure of the governor and the former governor, EFCC operatives, who had been laying siege to Bello’s residence on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, withdrew.