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.
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.
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