- The federal high court in Abuja has reiterated that its order to arrest and produce Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi state, remained unchanged
- Justice Emeka Nwite of the federal high court said it was disrespectful for Yahaya Bello to frustrate the court order to arrest him
- The judge held that Yahaya Bello’s application for a stay of execution would not be entertained until he appeared before it to answer the 19-count charges against him
FCT, Abuja – The Federal High Court in Abuja has insisted that its order made on April 17 to arrest and produce the ex-governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, still subsists.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on Friday, May 10, held that Bello’s continued refusal to attend court and antics to frustrate the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s arrest warrant were disrespectful of the court.
According to Vanguard, the court accused the former governor of Kogi state of attempting to frustrate the criminal case that the EFCC had initiated against him.
Justice Nwite held that the court would not entertain Bello’s applications unless he appeared in court and pleaded guilty to a 19-count money laundering charge brought against him by the EFCC.
Court rejects Yahaya Bello’s application
The judge also rejected Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Muhammed (SAN), ‘s request that further proceedings in the case stay pending the determination of the EFCC’s appeal in relation to a contempt case before a High Court of Kogi state, sitting in Lokoja.
The EFCC declared Bello a wanted person on Thursday, April 18. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Department of State Service (DSS) have also placed the former governor on their watchlist.
The anti-graft agency is moving to prosecute the former governor on 19 charges of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds worth N80.2 billion.
Read more about Yahaya Bello:
Picture of alleged moment Yahaya Bello jumping fence to escape EFCC arrest fact-checked
Yahaya Bello: “How EFCC shot itself”, former attorney general speaks on ex-Kogi gov’s case
Yahaya Bello vs EFCC: List of former governors who have tackled Kogi counterpart
Yahaya Bello’s dress-like woman fact-checked
Legit.ng earlier reported that Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi state, did not dress like a lady to flee the country and evade arrest.
The image claiming that the former governor dressed in female attire after he was declared wanted by the EFCC was fact-checked.
After conducting a Google Reverse Image Search on the image, it turned out to be a manipulated photo of Jane Nnamani, the late wife of the former Senate president, Ken Nnamani.
Source: Legit.ng