The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday denied disobeying a court order concerning the botched arrest of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
A statement signed by EFCC’s acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren on its X handle said, the Commission clarified that while Bello obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order from the Kogi State High Court, this did not nullify an existing Federal High Court order for his arrest and arraignment.
According to Uwujaren, the Kogi State High Court order only protected Bello’s personal liberty and freedom of movement but did not preclude the Federal High Court from making further orders in the determination of his case.
He emphasized that the two court orders are not in conflict, as they relate to different legal matters – a criminal charge and a fundamental rights enforcement action.
The statement reads in part, “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 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.
