Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have left the Abuja residence of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.
The EFCC operatives had earlier restricted movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi street, Wuse Zone 4.
After a few hours, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at Bello’s residence and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.
An EFCC official could be overheard speaking with someone suspected to be his superior on the phone, saying Bello was inside Ododo’s car that departed.
Shortly after Ododo departed from Bello’s residence, the EFCC personnel left the house.
The development comes about a month after the EFCC named Bello in an amended money laundering charge filed against Alli Bello, chief of staff to the incumbent governor of Kogi.
Ali, and one Daudu Suleiman, are the two defendants in the 17-count amended charge.
The EFCC alleged that the suspects diverted about N100 billion belonging to the Kogi government.
Responding to the EFCC charge, the Kogi government said funds belonging to the state did not go missing under the former governor.
Reacting to EFCC’s move of Wednesday, the media office of the ex-governor condemned the action and urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC.
It stated that: “the presence of EFCC’s operatives in Bello’s residence negated an injunction granted by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, on Feb. 9.’’
It added that the court granted the injunction in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Bello and the EFCC restraining the EFCC from harassing, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello, pending the determination of a substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.
“The EFCC was duly served with that order on Feb. 12, and on Feb. 26, it filed Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
“The appeal was accompanied by a Motion for a Stay of Execution of the order of the Lokoja High Court, and the Court of Appeal fixed hearing for April 22.
“Contrary to all of these, the EFCC laid siege to the home of Yahaya Bello, seeking to arrest him in contravention of extant orders.
“It is a surprise that an agency led by a lawyer could flagrantly disobey a subsisting court order by taking actions contrary to reliefs granted.
“We are aware of the total commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s current administration to the rule of law,’’ it stated.
