Fugitive Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi state has been ordered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, to make himself available for trial over an alleged N80 billion fraud.
The appellate court made the order on Monday in a case brought before it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, a decision that has superseded an earlier one made by a Kogi state high court which restrained the EFCC from prosecuting Bello over the allegation of money laundering.
The magazine reported that the former governor has been eluding arrest by playing hide and seek with the law.
Not a few insist that he has been in the custody of the Kogi state governor, under whose protection he has been since evaded EFCC arrest in his Abuja home in March this year.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Ken Amadi restrained the former governor from taking any further action regarding the charges against him until he has been formally arraigned.
The appeal court described the judgment by the Kogi high court which restrained the anti-graft agency fro arresting Bello as “scandalous”.
Justice Amadi held that it was very clear that the purpose of the case instituted at the trial court was “to shield the respondent, Yahaya Bello, from his criminal trial”.
The court also relied on the earlier decision of Olubunmi Oyewole JCA in EFCC vs. Alh. Yahaya Bello, CA/ABJ/CV/413/2024 to reiterate that “no court has the power to preclude a law enforcement agent from performing its statutory functions.”
On the whole, the court agreed with the submissions of the EFCC and held that the appeal is meritorious and is therefore allowed.
“In view of the provision of Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, the respondent in this appeal, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, is hereby ordered to appear for his arraignment in Charge No.: FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022, FRN VS ALI BELLO & ANOR, before taking any other step in this matter,” Justice Amadi ruled.
Bell who ruled the Confluence state for eight years with an iron fist has huge corruption allegations trailing him behind.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
