Tag: Yahaya Bello

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  Mr Ola Olukoyede has disclosed that he made personal efforts to invite a former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Adoza Bello to respond to investigations regarding his alleged involvement in money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand  and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).

Olukoyede stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 while addressing media executives at the Corporate Headquarters of the EFCC.  According to him, he had a telephone conversation with Bello offering him ample opportunities to present himself for interrogation by investigators of the EFCC.

“On my honour,  I put a call to him to honour him as a former governor. He said, I can’t come, claiming that a certain lady has surrounded  the EFCC with over 100 Journalists to embarrass or intimidate him and all that stuff. I said if that is your fear, I will make you come directly to my floor.  I will invite my operatives to interrogate you in my own office.  What could be more honourable than that? Do you know what he said? ‘ Can’t they come to my village?’ My Director of Investigations also sent a message to him”,  he said.

The EFCC’s boss said he was worried at the report of larceny available to the EFCC concerning the former governor.  “A sitting governor, because he knew he was going,  he moved money directly  from the government’s account to a bureau de change  to pay his children’s school fees in advance, $720, 000 in anticipation that he was going to leave government house”,  he said.

Olukoyede also disclosed that the EFCC,  in its bid to ensure the safety and stability of the foreign exchange market, has uncovered a new fraudulent scheme called P to P, peer to peer trading scheme.  The platform, according to him,   is operating outside  the official banking and financial corridors ,with more than 300( three hundred) accounts linked to it  already frozen by the EFCC.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Commission to the economic growth and development of the country,  promising that the EFCC would not relent in the exercise of its mandate.  He told the media executives that the Commission has recovered more than N120billion from fraudsters within six months and secured more than 1300 convictions.

He called on Nigerians to be more dedicated to the nation,  insisting that  patriotic Nigerians should offer more support to the EFCC because the Commission is crucial to the growth and development of Nigeria. ‘’If you support the EFCC, you are working for the growth of Nigeria.  We all have stakes in the wellbeing of our nation”,  he said.

Alleged N80.2 fraud: EFCC serves Yahaya Bello his charges

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello was on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 served his charges through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad (SAN) after Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja ruled that the defendant should be served through his counsel, especially as he failed to appear before the court, yet again.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Yahaya Bello alongside his Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246, 470,089.88k (Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eighty Kobo).

At Tuesday’s  sitting,  Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN) prayed the court to quash the arrest warrant granted the Commission against Bello, arguing that Tuesday’s  substituted service to the defendant through his counsel Abdulwahab Muhammad (SAN) has invalidated the arrest warrant.

“The court is expected to do justice at all times. A warrant of arrest cannot be hanging on Bello’s neck when we are in this court. It appears to us that the defendant will not get justice because the court granted a warrant of arrest before service,” he said.

However, prosecution counsel, Kemi Piniero (SAN) in response,  urged the court to decline hearing on any motion from Bello’s legal team until the defendant is physically present in court for his arraignment.

“The stage we are in now is to determine the whereabouts of the defendant. He cannot be in his house while the trial proceeds without him coming here to take his plea. My Lord,  this is a criminal matter not a civil matter, he must come and take his plea. It is a matter of over N80 billion. All these applications by the defendant are to prevent his arraignment and frustrate the commencement of trial,” he said.

After hearing both counsels, Justice Nwite adjourned ruling on the defence’s  application, seeking a revocation of the arrest warrant on Bello till May 10, 2024.

Alleged N80.4bn Fraud: Kogi assembly urges EFCC to obey court order

The Kogi House of Assembly on Tuesday urged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to obey court order in respect alleged N80. 4 billion fraud case against former governor Yahaya Bello.

The house equally called on the commission to with immediate effect remove
the Tag ’WANTED’ placed around the name and person of Bello, the former Governor of the state.

The house made the call during plenary ain Lokoja.

The commission on April 18, declared the former governor wanted when it could not succeed at arresting him in spite of a court injunction restraining it from arresting, detaining and prosecuting him.

“We expect the EFCC) to obey the rule of law and work within the ambit of law creating the commission.

“The EFCC, IGP, NIS, National Security Adviser and other agencies conscripted into this melodrama should endeavour to act accordingly.

“The commission should not allow itself to become a tool for political vendetta, blackmail, or intimidation against any individual through personal grudges, persecution, and campaign of calumny to tarnish
the image of personalities from Kogi.

“This honourable house condemn in its entirety a statement credited to a legal practitioner suggesting a request that the military be involved in the case that does not | constitute threat to internal security or treasonable felony, ,”

The resolutions of the lawmakers followed an earlier motion raised by Jibril Onoru-Oiza, (APC-Ajaokuta).

Onoru-Oiza said: “the recent reports in the print, electronic and social media handlers had featured various debasing forms of address against Bello.

“The consequence of this has deeply affected the minds, emotions, and impressions of Kogi citizens and by extension Nigerians.

” Kogi, over the years, has witnessed a worrisome trend and torrent of witch-hunt by the anti-graft agency, unrepentantly striving to force corruption claims on the State Government, officials and now again an Ex-Governor.

“This is not forgetting the plight of late Prince Abubakar Audu in the hands of the same agency, albeit, giving a dog a bad name in order to kill it.

“The commission started with claims that it discovered a nonexistent fund in an alleged Fixed Deposit Account in a bank.

“It appears the EFCC’s objectives are being eroded by certain selfish group of political individuals with access to media and investigations in the commission.

“This was why the 7th Legislative Assembly of Kogi State in August and September 2021 berated EFCC upon the completion of its investigation over allegation of N20 billion Bailout diversion against Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello through a fixed deposit account at Sterling Bank, Lokoja.

“It’s unfortunate and saddening that EFCC has continued the trajectory of persecuting the former Governor against all known legal decencies and now likened, by most, to personal vendetta. But the question is why? ” he queried.

According to him, Kogi, by allocation standard, is not rich so much so that N80.4bn will be missing.

He added: “this claim by the EFCC should be sanctioned and taken as laughable.”

Also, former Deputy Speaker of the house, Enema Paul and member representing Kabba-Bunu State Constituency  Oluwaseyi Bello, in their submissions, berated EFCC for allegedly disobeying a subsisting court order in the state.

The Speaker of the house  Aliyu Yusuf, admonished the anti craft agency not to act contrary to the law of the Country.

Yusuf said: .”This house is not against the EFCC doing their jobs but they should do it within the ambit of the law and not in a gestapo way.

“The country belongs to all of us, so we must respect the law and work with it. The EFCC engaging in media trial and working in a gestapo way is unacceptable.

“If Yahaya Bello has a case to answer, it should be done within the rule of law.”

Against the backdrop of arguments and counter-arguments on whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  has disobeyed a court order concerning the botched arrest of former governor of Kogi State,  Mr.  Yahaya Adoza Bello, the Commission has denied disobeying any court order in this regard.

In a Press Statement signed by the EFCC’s Acting Director,  Public Affairs,  Mr. Wilson Uwujaren,  the Commission clearly pointed out that though Bello sought refuge in a fundamental rights enforcement action through an order granted by  Justice Isa Jamil Abdulallahi of the Kogi State High Court,  the order does not vitiate or nullify an order made by the Federal High Court for  the arrest of the former governor for the purpose of his arraignment.

“The enrolled Order of the Kogi State High Court only granted an order to enforce Bello’s right to personal liberty and freedom of movement, it didn’t preclude the Federal High Court ‘to make any Order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the Applicant and the Respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination”,  he said.

He further stressed that,  “The Order made by the Federal  High Court for the arrest of Mr. Yahaya Bello for the purpose of his arraignment is not in conflict with the Order of the Kogi State High Court. The case before the Federal High Court is a criminal charge which is different from the fundamental rights enforcement action that is the subject of an appeal”.

Uwujaren pointed out that the EFCC had a shining track record in the prosecution of politically exposed persons  and would continue to exercise its mandate in the overall interest of the nation.  He admonished Bello to turn himself in and answer to the charges preferred against him by the Commission.

He called on all patriotic Nigerians to lend their voices in support of the Commission stressing that ” the EFCC will not relent in its quest to wrestle corruption to the ground.”

The legal tussle over the legality of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) bid to arraign former Kogi governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello over alleged N80.2billion fraud will begin on Monday (today) at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The appellate court is expected to hear EFCC’s application seeking to set aside the interim injunction of a High Court in Kogi barring the EFCC from arresting the former governor.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja is expected to deliver a ruling on Tuesday over the EFCC’s request, asking the court to grant an order to effect substituted service of the charge on Bello.

Justice Isa Abdullahi of a Kogi High Court on Feb. 9, gave an interim order restraining the commission from taking any action against Bello, pending the determination of the substantive matter.

But the EFCC later approached the Court of Appeal on March 11, asking the appellate court to set aside the interim restraining order.

The EFCC informed the appellate court that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to assist Bello to escape the deserved vengeance of the law.

The commission said that Bello could not use the lower court to escape invitation, investigation and possible prosecution.

However, hearing of the EFCC’s appeal over the interim order will also face fierce legal argument as the Kogi High Court on April 17 delivered its substantive judgment in the matter.

The court directed the commission to seek the leave of the Court of Appeal before taking further steps against Bello.

This development indicates that the EFCC will have to appeal against the fresh substantive judgment, get the appellate court’s pronouncement before it can proceed with any action against Bello.

Justice Abdullahi had in his latest verdict, held that: “Looking at the Orders sought by the applicant (Bello), I am inclined to grant them subject to some alterations which in my view will meet the justice of this case, in the following terms;

“An order is hereby granted enforcing the fundamental rights of the applicant to liberty and freedom of movement and fair hearing, by restraining the respondent (EFCC) by themselves, their agents, servants or privies from continuing to harass, threaten to arrest or detain or in any manner whatsoever arresting, detaining or prosecuting the Applicant on the basis of the criminal Charges now pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja

”To wit; Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022 between FRN v. Ali Bello & Anor, without prejudice to the power of the said Federal High Court, to make any order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the applicant and the respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination.

“An order is hereby granted directing the respondent to bring before the said Federal High Court, or any such appropriate court, such criminal Charge, allegation or complaint in respect whereof the applicant is reasonably believed by the respondent to have committed any offence subject of its jurisdiction, provided that the respondent shall not invite, arrest or detain the applicant.

“This is on account of a reasonable belief that the applicant has committed any financial crime, without first obtaining the leave of a superior Court of Record.”

Yahaya Bello: EFCC told to obey court order

Meanwhile, a lawyer, Mr Jesutega Onokpasa, has advised EFCC not to act above the law in its efforts to arrest and prosecute former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, over alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

Onokpasa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja, advised EFCC to first vacate the existing court order restraining it from arresting and prosecuting Bello.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had declared Bello wanted for alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.

The commission had on Wednesday made a failed attempt  to arrest the former governor at his Abuja residence.

According to him, the declaration of Bello wanted by EFCC is also illegal, until the exiting valid court order is vacated.

He described attempts by EFCC to arrest Bello without vacating the existing order from a court of coordinate jurisdiction as illegal.

He said what EFCC was doing at the moment could best be described as persecuting, rather than seeking to prosecute Bello.

“The immediate past governor has been trending in the news in a manner that calls for great concern with a plethora of ramifications.

“Cutting across serious issues such as fundamental human rights, the rule of law, and then other matters of political significance.

“As far as we are aware, former governor Bello had obtained a court order restraining the EFCC from arresting, arraigning or prosecuting him.

`We state categorically that it was perfectly entitled in law to place reliance on the protection of the law. Indeed, the same law which binds absolutely all of us in a civilized society.

“The motto of the EFCC is that no one is above the law. Well, that starts with the EFCC itself, which is certainly not and cannot possibly be above the law.

“The remedy against an order of court is to vacate the order or to appeal the same, and most certainly not for law enforcement to thump its nose at the court and decompose into lawlessness and brigandage,’’ he said.

Onokpasa said that the withdrawal of the security details to Bello was also illegally, and thus politically exposing him to great danger.

He said that as a former governor, Bello was entitled to certain number of security details for protection.

He claimed that the former governor’s travail in the hand of EFCC was politically motivated by his perceived enemies.

“We unequivocally condemn this witch-hunt against a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a former governor of one of the states of this country,’’ he said.

Onokpasa said that while no one is condoling corruption, if there is a case of corruption against anybody, the prosecution should be done according to law.

He called on all well-meaning Nigerians, including incumbent and former governors to stand against what he described as “utter travesty.’’

“Today it may be the turn of Bello. Well, tomorrow it might be the turn of any one of us,’’ he said.

Fielding questions from journalists, Onokpasa said that the narrative that Bello was running away from prosecution was not true.

He said it was the right of Bello to seek the protection of the court in protecting his human right.

He said that in as much that Bello had valid court order restraining EFCC from arresting or prosecuting him, the only remedy for the commission was to go back to court vacate the order.

He said that even as a law abiding citizen, Bello ought not to cooperate with anybody trying to break the law to arrest him.

“Even this order, I was reliably informed today that the court even mandated the EFCC to seek leave of the court of appeal before it can arrest or arraign Bello.

“We should not tolerate illegality in the name of enforcing the law under the guise of enforcing the law,’’ he said.

Asked if action of Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi was not obstructing justice when he allegedly whisk away Bello form his Abuja residence from being arrested by EFCC operatives, Onokpasa said there was no evidence to that effect.

He said no one had valid evidence that Bello was in that house at that material time on that day, or that Ododo was in the said vehicle that entered Bello’s residence.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello wanted.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the EFCC declared Bello wanted on Thursday after making an attempt to arrest him but met a brick wall of resistance.

“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 Billion.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabout should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest Police Station,” a statement by the EFCC reads.

Court fixes April 23 for ruling in substituted service on Yahaya Bello

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned until April 23 for ruling im an application by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking a substituted service of the charge on the immediate-past Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and the ex-governor’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, presented their arguments for and against the oral application.

When the matter was called for the arraignment of Bello on a 19-count money laundering charge preferred against him, the former governor was not in court.

However, his team of lawyers, including Adeola Adedipe, SAN, was in court.

Mohammed, who announced appearance for Bello, challenged the validity of the charge on the ground that the the court lacked jurusidction to entertain the matter on the one hand and to have issued the arrest warrant against his client on the other hand.

He informed the court that a preliminary objection had already been filed before the court to the effect.

The lawyer, who urged the court to vacate the arrest warrant order, said a High Court of Kogi had on Feb. 9 restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting, detaining or prosecuting Bello.

He said the ruling was on a fundamental rights suit filed by the former governor and that the EFCC was a party in the matter.

He added that two of the senior advocates representing the anti-graft agency in the instant charge were also in the matter.

Mohammed said the order was challenged by the EFCC at the Court of Appeal and the matter was already fixed for hearing.

He stressed that the arrest warrant the commission surreptitiously got from the court was an attempt to bring the court on collision course with the Appeal Court.

Bello’s lawyer, who insisted that the issue of jurisdiction was a threshold which the court must address first, argued that the charge ought not to have been filed in view of the appeal.

Mohammed disagreed with Pinheiro’s submission that the court should direct that he should be served with the charge in the open court since he represented Bello.

The senior lawyer said he was not authorised to receive the charge on his client’s behalf.

He argued that if the commission could not serve Bello personally with the charge, they should formally apply so that the defendant could respond accordingly.

Besides, he insisted that their objection to the whole charge and the arrest warrant on the ground of lack of jurisdiction had not been dealt it.

He urged the court to refuse EFCC’s application.

However, EFCC’s lawyer disagreed with Mohammed’s submission.

Pinheiro said the matter was fixed for Bello’s arraignment and Mohammed, having announced appearance for the ex-governor, could be served in the open court for the matter to proceed.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until May 23 for ruling on substituted service.

The judge had, on Wednesday, ordered that EFCC should be issued a warrant for the arrest of Bello despite the subsisting judgment by a Kogi High Court restraining the commission from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting him.

The court had also ordered that the ex-governor be produced in court today (Thursday) for his arraignment.