In a dramatic turn of events, operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched a raid on the Abuja residence of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The siege took place at his home in Wuse Zone 4, Federal Capital Territory, as armed EFCC personnel encircled the property located on Benghazi Street.
Photographs obtained by our correspondent vividly depict the tense atmosphere surrounding Bello’s residence as the EFCC operation unfolded. However, the reason behind the siege remains shrouded in mystery, as spokesperson Dele Oyewale failed to provide clarity despite inquiries.
This incident comes in the wake of the EFCC’s legal action against Yahaya Bello, along with his nephew Ali, Dauda Sulaiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu. They faced an amended charge in March 2024, accused of involvement in an alleged N84 billion money laundering scheme, a case currently before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Responding to the raid, Bello’s media office issued a strong condemnation of the EFCC’s actions, calling for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to rein in the agency’s conduct.
According to the statement, the presence of the operatives in Bello’s residence negated the order of injunction granted on February 9, 2024, by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Yahaya Bello v. EFCC, restraining the commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting him, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.
The statement read, “The EFCC was duly served with that order on February 12, 2024, and on February 26, 2024, the EFCC filed an appeal (Appeal No.: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello) against the said order to the Court of Appeal Abuja Division. The appeal was accompanied by a Motion for a Stay of Execution of the order of the High Court, which the Court of Appeal adjourned for hearing till April 22, 2024.
“Furthermore, judgment in the substantive case between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC will be delivered at 12 noon today in Lokoja.
“Contrary to all of the above, the EFCC has now laid siege to the home of H.E Yahaya Bello, seeking to arrest him in contravention of the 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 the reliefs granted.
“We are aware of the total commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s current administration to the rule of law and can say categorically that the EFCC leadership might have offered the agency on a platter of gold to desperate politicians to convert it to their score-settling tool without minding the effect on its integrity and the image of Nigeria as regards the rule of law.”
