The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to produce himself for arraignment.
The Press Nigeria recalls that Bello has been embroiled in a prolonged legal dispute with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, regarding his arraignment.
The EFCC subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest, declaring him wanted, after repeatedly failing to comply with court orders to surrender himself for arraignment.
However, Bello, in a letter through his team of lawyers led by Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, requested that since he was alleged to have committed the offence when he was the state governor, it is proper for the case to be held in Kogi State.
He maintained that only the Lokoja Division of the high court has the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the allegations raised against him by the EFCC.
In a unanimous judgment by Justice Ken Amadi on Tuesday, the court restrained Bello from taking further steps in the charge unless he is arraigned.
The court also allowed the appeal filed by the EFCC against the judgment of Hon. Justice Isah Abdullahi Jamil of the Kogi State High Court in a fundamental rights case filed by Bello in February 2024.
The court found that the appeal by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, on behalf of the EFCC is meritorious and described as scandalous the judgment of the lower court when it held that the purpose of the case instituted at the trial Court was to shield the Yahaya Bello from his criminal trial.
