The Immediate past governor of Kogi State,Yahaya Bello has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
EFCC said: “He 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.”
Meanwhile, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja to set aside an arrest warrant issued against him.
Alhaji Bello, through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, told Justice Emeka Nwite that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant the order in the first instance.
Mr Mohammed told Justice Nwite when the matter was called for the ex-governor to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on 19-count bordering on money laundering.
Justice Nwite on Wednesday ordered that EFCC should be issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Bello.
The judge, who granted the order, directed that Mr Bello should be brought to court today to take his plea in the charge preferred against him.
Mr Mohammed 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 February 9 restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting, detaining or prosecuting Mr Bello.
He said the order was challenged by the EFCC at the Court of Appeal and the matter was already fixed for hearing.
Mr Mohammed said 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.
He said the issue of jurisdiction was a threshold which the court must first address.
However, EFCC’s lawyer, Kehibde Pinhero, SAN, disagreed with Mr Mohammed’s submission.
He said the matter was fixed for Mr Bello’s arraignment and Mr Mohammed, having announced appearance for the ex-governor, could be served in the open court for the matter to proceed.
He said the arrest warrant was to ensure that Mr Bello was produced in court to stand his trial since efforts to effect the service on him had proved abortive.
The hearing is still ongoing as of the time this report was filed. (NAN)