You can’t arrest, detain, or prosecuting ex-Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello – Court tells EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been ordered by a High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, to refrain from violating Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s fundamental human rights. Bello is a former governor of Kogi State.

In a two-hour ruling on Wednesday in suit no. HCL/68/M/2020, the High Court 4 presided over by Hon. Justice I.A. Jamil, and the court banned the EFCC from making an arrest, holding the petitioner, or bringing charges against her unless specifically permitted by the court. After an earlier temporary injunction, this is a final order.

The ruling came after Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the petitioner, filed a lawsuit in which he attempted to hold the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accountable for violating his basic rights.

The Respondents’ ability to persecute the Applicant was also constrained by the Court.

The EFCC’s appeal to the Court’s jurisdiction was rejected earlier in the ruling.

The applicant’s attorneys, SA Abbas and MS Yusuf, referred to the ruling as historic, however the

Defendant attorneys T.U. Odima and Patrick O. Jibril concurred with the ruling, calling it exhaustive.