Hearing on the appeal filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against an interim order by the Kogi State High Court restraining the commission from arresting, detaining, harassing, or prosecuting Yahaya Bello, pending the determination of the substantive originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, suffered a setback, yesterday, as the Court of Appeal failed to sit.
The appropriateness of the siege to Bello’s residence by operatives of the Commission on Wednesday had elicited a heated debate across the country, particularly with the realisation that there had been a restraining order against such an action, which had not been vacated as of the time of the siege.
The EFCC had appealed the order on March 11, 2024 and sought for a stay of execution in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello. The Court of Appeal did not grant the stay of execution but fixed Monday, April 22 for hearing.
However, the Kogi State High Court, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, had delivered its substantive judgment in the matter and directed the commission to seek the leave of a superior court before taking further step against Bello.
MEANWHILE, no fewer than 500 lawyers had, yesterday, stormed the Supreme Court to condemn what they described as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “illegal” approach against former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello.
In a statement by its co-convener, S.K, Alewu, the group lamented EFCC’s attempt to arrest the former governor despite being served a valid court order that restrains it from doing so.
Alewu said not only has Bello’s fundamental rights been breached, the judiciary had also become willing tools in the hands of enemies of our rule of law. The lawyers urged the Judicial Council of Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC stop abuse and disobedience of court orders.