The Court of Appeal in Abuja did not convene on Monday to hear the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a Kogi High Court order that prohibited the agency from arresting the former governor, Yahaya Bello.
The Kogi court had issued a ruling on April 17, restraining the EFCC from arresting, detaining, and prosecuting Bello. The judgment was delivered by Judge I.A Jamil in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State.
This ruling coincided with the EFCC’s attempted arrest of Bello at his residence in Abuja. The EFCC is pursuing charges against the former governor related to alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds amounting to N80.2 billion.
In response to the Kogi court’s order, the EFCC swiftly sought an arrest warrant from the Federal High Court in Abuja through an ex parte motion. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the motion, issuing a warrant for Bello’s immediate arrest and directing his appearance for arraignment on Thursday, April 18.
