The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday did not sit to hear the appeal lodged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the order of a Kogi High Court which restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting the immediate-past governor, Yahaya Bello.
The Kogi State High court, in a ruling on April 17, restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting Bello.
The judge, I.A Jamil, gave the order in a two-hour judgment delivered in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Wednesday.
“By this order, the EFCC is hereby restrained from arresting, detaining, and prosecuting the applicant except as authorized by the court.
“This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given,” he said.
Former Governor Bello had filed a case of a breach of his fundamental human rights by the Anti-graft agency before the state High Court.
The former governor had prayed for an order restraining the EFCC from arresting, detecting and prosecuting him unjustly.
Bello, sought for the enforcement of his fundamental right against the EFCC.
The court, consequently, restrained the respondents from persecuting the applicant, safe only when it has reasonable evidence upon proper investigation.
On the issue of jurisdiction, the judge dismissed EFCC’s objection, saying it had failed and so was dismissed.
“This honourable court has jurisdiction to entertain this application.
“Therefore, the substantive issues of fundamental human rights sought by the applicant succeeds, ” he declared .
The judgment coincided with the ”siege’ invasion of Bello’s home in Abuja by EFCC operatives in a bid to arrest him.
The EFCC is seeking to arraign the former governor on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2billion.
Political analyst told journalists in Lokoja that, former Governor Bello is still under the cover of the law till further notice or determination of the Appeal Court.
Meanwhile, Social media influencer, Reno Omokri has praised the embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for handing over to incumbent Governor Usman Ododo.
In his interview on the ‘Mic On Podcast’ programme hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, late Saturday. the former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan noted the significance of a governor “anointing” a loyal successor.
Omokri said. “There’s another aspect of it that people need to look at, that’s loyalty. If you are a Governor, no matter how well you perform; if you were involved in choosing, selecting or anointing your successor, and then you fall out with your successor, it says a lot about your person.
“Now, I admire Yahaya Bello, not for all of those things they’re accusing him of. No! In fact, if possible it can be proven, I’ll condemn it.
“But I admire Yahaya Bello for the fact that he’s been able to anoint a successor who has become his protector. Because in politics, if you have a successor who can’t become your protector, then that’s a disaster.”
“So when you have a governor who is able to sustain that loyalty in his successor, it’s an admirable quality.
