BREAKING: EFCC threatens to invite Nigerian army to arrest absentee Yahaya Bello to face charges of ‘N80.2 billion money laundering’
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has threatened to invite the Nigerian Army to effect the arrest of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello for arraignment before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
EFCC’s legal team issued the threat before Justice Emeka Nwite on Thursday after explaining how a person of immunity protected Bello from arrest following the court’s bench warrant.
The court had fixed today for plea alongside the ex-governors nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19- count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246, 470, 088.88.
The anti-graft agency claims the defendants diverted public funds.
Some of the counts read:
Bello’s arraignment followed a warrant of arrest and enrolment order granted to the EFCC by Justice Emeka Nwite earlier today.
The order was granted by Justice Emeka Nwite in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 and filed by the EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo.
The EFCC counsel argued that the ex-governor needs to be apprehended by security agencies so as to fast-track his arraignment in court and immediate trial.
The anti-graft agency maintained that the judge should either order Bello’s arrest or issue a public summons commanding the defendant to appear before the court.
Justice Emeka Nwite said the fact deposed by the EFCC has persuaded him to grant the request.
He subsequently ordered that the former governor be arraigned before him on April 18, in line with the EFCC’s request.
Furthermore, the EFCC urged the public to note that the ex-governor was not above the law.
At the resumed proceedings on Thursday, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Piniero SAN said in open court that the Commission was aware that Bello is been harboured in the home of a person that has immunity.
He submitted that immunity is only attached to a person, not his house or car, adding that the law allows Nigerian security agencies to break into a house to arrest a defendant.
He said,
“If he is unwilling to produce his client in court, we will invite other security agencies including the Nigerian army to produce him.
“We can come next week. We will produce him,” Piniero assured.
Piniero also urged the court to compel the ex-governor’s lawyer to accept service of the processes, explaining that it has been impossible to serve the charge sheet on him personally.
The ex-governor’s lawyer, Abdul Wahab Mohammed, said in open court that the Abuja division of the court or the EFCC cannot arraign his client.
He contended that his preliminary objection application has to be taken first, but the EFCC came behind him through a motion-exparte to obtain a warrant of arrest.
He said,
“The governor has a lawyer in court and if there is a justifiable issue for him to come to court, he would.
“Our contention is that the defendant on record is not a fugitive. We are talking of the rule of law, not the rule of force.
“We are contending that the warrant of arrest was given outside jurisdiction because there is a judgment.
“I don’t have the authority of the defendant to accept service of the charges and proof of evidence.”
The judge said he had yet to read the Kogi state high court judgement of yesterday.
But the judge held all parties including the ex-governor have to be formally before the court and the EFCC, without a warrant of arrest, can arrest a suspect or defendant.
He adjourned to April 23 for ruling and arraignment.
