The Attorney General of the Federation states that the EFCC is defined by statute as having the authority to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the The scope of their research could extend into any topic, regardless of significance.
Attorney General Yahaya Bello
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Yahaya Bello is a former governor of Kogi State, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has requested him to turn himself in to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC is empowered by statute to call any person of interest to communicate with them throughout their investigation into any subject, regardless of status, he claimed in a statement issued on Thursday.
Bello, who is accused of laundering N80 billion, declined to show up on Thursday before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he was scheduled to enter a plea.
In an attempt to apprehend Mr. Bello, EFCC agents earlier on Wednesday besieged his home in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, for a number of hours.
The police officers manning the residence provided the operators with significant resistance, making it impossible for them to execute the court-ordered arrest.
Later on during the police-EFCC standoff, Usman Ododo, the current governor of Kogi State, turned up at the residence.
Later on, he was said to have driven away from the house in Mr. Bello’s official car.
Although Mr. Bello’s attorneys were present, he did not show up for his planned arraignment on Thursday.
AGF responds, However, the AGF, Mr. Fagbemi, denounced the former governor’s actions in a statement issued later on Thursday, specifically mentioning his refusal to appear in court.
The minister expressed “grave concern” over the impasse between the police and the EFCC.
In the course of their investigation into any subject, regardless of status, the EFCC is authorized by statute “to invite any person of interest to interact with them,” he stated.
Therefore, the least that any of us can do when invited is to honorably accept the EFCC’s invitation rather than placing any obstacles in their path.
A circumstance in which law enforcement officials, who are also protected by public authorities, will build a barrier to hinder the lawful and glorious efforts of the EFCC in conducting out out its mandate is, to put it mildly, extremely unsettling.
“Therefore, I implore anyone who has received an invitation from the EFCC or any other organization to promptly follow the path of decency and civility by accepting such an offer rather than starting a self-help or escapism project that will only damage our nation’s reputation abroad.”
Desired
AFCC proclaimed Mr. Bello sought during the proceedings on Thursday.
The commission asked the public to come forward to the organization with any reliable information regarding Mr. Bello’s whereabouts.
During the hearing on Thursday, Kemi Pinheiro, the prosecution attorney for the EFCC, stated that the current Governor of Usman Ododo, of Kogi State, is rumored to have secretly driven Mr. Bello away in his official car.
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Leading Jibrin Okutepa, a SAN, in the prosecution, Mr. Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), claimed that the professionalism of the anti-graft agency in managing the standoff between EFCC agents attempting to arrest Mr. Bello and the police officers stationed at the residence preventing the former governor’s arrest prevented a “bloodbath.”
Hearing in court
EFCC prosecutor Kemi Pinheiro, who was incensed that Mr. Bello had neglected to appear in court for his arraignment on Thursday, stated that the government would have no problem calling the military to bring him before the judge.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Pinheiro, who was leading Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, on behalf of the prosecution, described the scene as a “bloodbath.” was avoided because of the anti-graft agency’s skill in managing the standoff between the police personnel stationed at the residence preventing the former governor’s arrest and EFCC agents attempting to apprehend Mr. Bello.
The prosecuting attorney made it clear that although Mr. Ododo is immune from prosecution, Mr. Bello, his predecessor, no longer has that protection and needs to appear in court.
If required, we will ask the military to bring the person in question. (Mr. Bello) in court,” Mr. Pinheiro stated, citing section 12 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Immunity is a personal trait; it is not a property. The accused will appear in court.
However, Abdulwahab Muhammad, Mr. Bello’s attorney, said that his client was not in violation of any judicial mandate.
The SAN, Mr. Muhammad, referenced a Kogi State High Court order prohibiting the EFCC from apprehending and holding his client. The court was located in Lokoja.
Additionally, the defense attorney said that the Court of Appeal in Abuja was still considering an appeal on the suit.
After looking into Mr. Bello and his family for years, the EFCC decided to put him on trial.
The N10 billion money laundering allegations the commission brought against the former governor’s nephew Ali Bello and a co-defendant in 2022 were the product of its extensive probe into the previous governor.
In one of the recently submitted counts, the prosecution designated former Governor Bello as an accomplice rather than a defendant.
The EFCC filed a new lawsuit alleging that Mr. Bello, his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu—who is allegedly still at large—colluded to convert a total of N80 billion (N80, 246,470, 088.88) in February of 2020.
