Court restrains EFCC from arresting, detaining, prosecuting Yahaya Bello

A High Court sitting in Lokoja has issued a protective order for Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, against actions by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that could violate his fundamental human rights.

During a session that lasted two hours on Wednesday, presided by Justice I.A Jamil at High Court 4, the court decreed in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 that the EFCC is barred from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello without explicit court authorisation. This ruling solidifies a previous interim injunction given by the court

The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by Bello, asserting his fundamental rights and seeking protection from the EFCC.

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Furthermore, the court prohibited the EFCC from persecuting Bello and dismissed their challenge regarding the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

This comes as the EFCC lay siege at the residence of the former governor in Abuja in an attempt to get him arrested.

However, civil society organisations have urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC against misrepresenting Nigeria as a lawless society.

Taofeek Oyedokun

Taofeek Oyedokun is a correspondent at BusinessDay with years of experience reporting on political economy, public policy, migration, environment/climate change, and social justice. A graduate of Political Science from the University of Lagos, he has also earned multiple professional certificates in journalism and media-related training. Known for his clear, data-driven reporting, Oyedokun covers a wide range of national and international socioeconomic issues, bringing depth, balance, and public-interest focus to his work.