The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, has disclosed it will arraign Yahaya Bello, a former Kogi State Governor, before a federal high court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, alongside others.
The ex-governor will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside his nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19- count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80. 246 billion.
EFCC disclosed this via a statement on its official X account on Wednesday,17th March 2024.
Bello’s arraignment follows the issuance of a warrant of arrest and an enrollment order granted to the EFCC by Justice Nwite earlier today.
This order was granted in the ex-parte motion labeled FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, filed by the EFCC’s lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo.The EFCC’s counsel argued that the former governor needed to be apprehended by security agencies to expedite his appearance in court and commence immediate trial.
The anti-graft agency reiterated that the judge should either authorize Bello’s arrest or issue a public summons compelling the defendant to appear before the court.
In a related development The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC, warned members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct its officers from carrying out their lawful duties.
The warning comes after Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, “rescued” Yahaya Bello, his predecessor, from the commission’s siege in Abuja on Wednesday.
The EFCC operatives had earlier restricted movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
But after a few hours, Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.
Story: Ihuoma Ukeje