17th April, 2024
By Isaac Aregbesola
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo visited his embattled predecessor, Yahaya Bello at his Abuja residence on Wednesday as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) laid siege to the property.
Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence alongside several security operatives and youthful supporters protesting against the siege to the former governor’s home by the EFCC.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the residence observed the heavy presence of armed operatives of the EFCC, policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services, and Bello’s private security team.
Ododo later departed from the premises while EFCC operatives still kept vigil there.
EFCC operatives laid siege to Bello’s property in connection with money laundering charges levelled against the erstwhile governor.
In March, the EFCC dragged Bello and three alleged accomplices before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an amended charge of N84 billion money laundering.
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.