Some youths in Kogi State on Tuesday staged a protest against plans by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission to arrest the former State Governor, Yahaya Bello over alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
The youths who came out in their were seen carrying banners with various inscriptions, such as, ‘Nigeria is not a banana republic’, ‘President Tinubu, call EFCC to order’, ‘EFCC stop witch hunting’, ‘Yahaya Bello remains a responsible citizen’, ‘EFCC obey court order now’ and among others
They reportedly barricaded the popular Lokoja-Abuja road which caused gridlock on the highway.
They protested under the auspices of the Coalition of Civil Society for Democracy, and Africa Youths Coalition for Justice, alleged that the anti-graft agency was witch-hunting and victimizing the Bello.
The groups called for caution and adherence to the rule of law on Bello’s trial.
The anti-graft agency had named Bello in an amended N80 billion money laundering charge filed against Governor Ododo’s Chief of Staff, Alli Bello.
The commission had invited the former governor but he refusedl to submit himself which indicated that he is actually evading arrest.
This development made EFCC operatives to storm his home on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, on last Wednesday morning.
But the operatives were prevented by some policemen and other armed men guarding him from entering the house.
The current State Governor Ododo later arrived with heavy security in the afternoon and later drove out with Bello in his car.
The development had compelled the helpless EFCC operatives laying siege to Bello’s home to retreat from Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
While the siege to Bello’s residence was still on, two conflicting court rulings emerged in respect to the attempt to arrest the former governor by the EFCC.
One of the rulings, which came from Justice I.A Jamil of Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, last Wednesday restrained the commission, from arresting, detaining or prosecuting him.
But Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted permission to the EFCC to arrest the ex-Kogi governor in preparation for his arraignment last Thursday.
