EFCC vs Yahaya Bello: Court Gives Fresh Arrest Order, Details Emerge

EFCC vs Yahaya Bello: Court Gives Fresh Arrest Order, Details Emerge

  • A top Nigerian court has issued a warrant for the arrest of two key officials of the Kogi state government and supposed loyalists of Yahaya Bello
  • Legit.ng reports that Bello, who left office as governor of Kogi state in January 2024, faces 19 counts of money laundering
  • EFCC accused him (Bello) of diverting the funds from the Kogi state treasury during his eight-year tenure, but the former governor is fighting back

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering governance, security, and corruption matters.

FCT, Abuja - The federal high court, Abuja, has issued warrants for the arrest of two men – Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalamu Hudu – over the alleged withdrawal of N46 billion from bank accounts reportedly belonging to the Kogi state government.

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As reported by Leadership newspaper on Wednesday, July 31, the court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, also directed the accused men to appear before it and respond to the allegation, among other charges.

Court orders arrest of two people over alleged N46 billion cash withdrawals from Kogi state government's bank account
The EFCC is seeking to arraign Yahaya Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds. Photo credits: EFCC, Alh Yahaya Bello
Source: Facebook

Legit.ng understands that the matter is one of the latest litigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Yahaya Bello, several Kogi state government officials, and associates.

Ruling on the motion, Justice Nwite granted the EFCC’s request for an arrest warrant.

He declared:

“The plaintiff/applicant’s application dated and filed on 3/7/2024 is granted as prayed.
"An order of this honourable court is hereby made, issuing a warrant for the arrest of Abdussalamu Hudu and Umar Shuaibu Oricha to bring them before this honourable court to answer to criminal complaints/allegations against them and to be dealt with according to the law.”

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Bello vs EFCC: Tinubu sent message

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Obidike Chukwuebuka, a member of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), cautioned against President Bola Tinubu's intervention in the ongoing case between Bello and the EFCC.

While acknowledging the president's authority to intervene, Chukwuebuka emphasised the need to consider the potential implications of such action.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ridwan Adeola avatar

Ridwan Adeola (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng and a certified journalist with over 9 years of experience. He edited Politics Nigeria's articles, was the Acting Editor of AllNews Nigeria and Fact-Checking Researcher (Africa Check). He received his HND in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic Ibadan. He received a Certificate of Achievement (Journalism Clinic’s Fix The Leak masterclass, 2021) and also completed Google News Initiative's Advance digital reporting curriculum. Contact him at ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.