Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has criticized former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello’s assertion that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disregarded the orders of the Kogi State High Court by attempting to arrest and arraign him before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement released by Falana on Friday, he argued that the EFCC had dutifully adhered to the order of the Kogi State High Court by lodging charges of money laundering amounting to over N80 billion against Bello.
He emphasized that the directive from the Federal High Court for Bello’s arrest, issued for his arraignment, aligns with the directive of the Kogi State High Court.
Falana stated, “It is abundantly clear that the Kogi State High Court granted an order to uphold the fundamental rights of Mr. Yahaya Bello to personal liberty and freedom of movement. The order was made ‘without prejudice to the power of the said Federal High Court, to make any Order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the Applicant and the Respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination.”
“The Kogi State High Court specifically instructed the EFCC to bring before the said Federal High Court, or any such appropriate Court, such criminal Charge, allegation or complaint regarding which the Applicant is reasonably believed by the Respondent to have committed any offence.
“Consequently, by bringing charges of money laundering exceeding N80 billion against Mr. Yahaya Bello at the Federal High Court, the EFCC has faithfully adhered to the order of the Kogi State High Court. Likewise, the directive issued by the Federal High Court for the arrest of Mr. Yahaya Bello for the purpose of his arraignment is in accordance with the order of the Kogi State High Court.”
Falana’s statement comes amid recent efforts by the EFCC to apprehend Bello over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
The former governor, facing mounting pressure, has been placed on the watch list of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), while all police officers assigned to him have been recalled by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
