Even as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) laid siege on his Abuja residence, a Lokoja High Court on Wednesday afternoon gave an order restraining the anti-corruption agency from arresting, detaining and prosecuting former governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
Justice I.A Jamil, gave the order in a two hour judgment delivered in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 in Lokoja wherein Bello had challenged EFCC of infringing on his fundamental human rights.
The judge held that infringing on the fundamental human rights of the former Kogi is null and void except as authorised by the Court.
Justice Jamil was direct and intentional in his judgement. “By this order, the EFCC is hereby restrained from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant except as authorised by the Court. This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given, ” he said.
Bello had filed a case of a breach of his fundamental human rights by the Anti-graft agency before the state High Court.
The former governor had prayed for an order restraining the EFCC from arresting, detenting and prosecuting him unjustly
Bello, sought for the enforcement of his fundamental right against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Consequently, the court restrained the respondents from persecuting the applicant, safe only when it has a reasonable evidence upon proper investigation.
On the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC, the judge said it had failed and so was dismissed.
“This honourable court has jurisdiction to entertain this application. Therefore, the substantive issues of fundamental human rights sought by the applicant succeeds, ” he declared .
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