Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court stays execution of contempt proceedings against EFCC chair

The Court of Appeal successful Abuja has ordered a enactment of execution and proceedings successful the contempt suit filed astatine the Kogi State High Court by erstwhile Governor Yahaya Bello against the seat of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olu Olukoyede.

A three-member sheet of the appellate court, led by Joseph Oyewole, gave the bid connected Friday aft taking an ex-parte exertion from the EFCC chairman’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa.

Other members of the appellate tribunal sheet see – Peter Obiora and Okon Abang.

Details of the proceedings were shared by Mr Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), connected Friday.

In granting the order, Mr Oyewole held that the EFCC chairperson’s petition to enactment execution of the contempt proceedings had merit.

Also, the Court of Appeal ordered substituted work of each the filings successful the suit to beryllium affixed No 9 Bengazi Steet, Wuse Zone 4 Abuja, being the past known code of Mr Bello.

The justness adjourned the proceeding of the question connected announcement to the 20 May.

Background

The Kogi State High Court successful Lokoja presided implicit by Isa Jamil connected 26 April ordered Mr Olukoyede to look earlier it connected 13 May to amusement wherefore helium should not beryllium jailed for allegedly disobeying its earlier order.

Mr Bello had initiated a contempt complaint against the EFCC seat arsenic portion of the ex-governor’s efforts to halt his arraignment and proceedings connected N80 cardinal wealth laundering charges instituted against him aft helium near bureau arsenic politician successful January.

In his application, Mr Bello accused Mr Olukoyede of committing contempt by allegedly violating the court’s bid barring the EFCC from arresting him.

The anti-graft bureau precocious charged Mr Bello astatine the Federal High Court successful Abuja with wealth laundering involving implicit N80 billion. But efforts by the EFCC to arraign the erstwhile politician person been met with stiff absorption from the latter.

ALSO READ: Come retired of hiding, Ortom advises Yahaya Bello

Mr Bello resisted apprehension connected 17 February erstwhile operatives of the committee attempted to execute a arguable apprehension warrant against him astatine his residence successful Abuja.

He was absent from tribunal for his arraignment connected the pending N80 cardinal wealth laundering charges connected 2 occasions – 18 and 23 April.

At the 23 April proceedings astatine the Federal High Court successful Abuja, the judge, Emeka Nwite, issued an bid of substituted service, permitting the EFCC to service the suspect done his lawyer.

Mr Bello and his lawyers person justified his lack from court, citing a tribunal bid shielding him from arrest, which they accused EFCC of violating.

But the anti-graft bureau has denied violating immoderate tribunal bid with its moves to apprehension and arraign Mr Bello.

It argues that its determination to apprehension and arraign Mr Bello was based connected the warrant of apprehension the Federal High Court successful Abuja issued connected 17 April.

The bureau besides argues that the bid issued successful favour of Mr Bello by the Kogi State High Court successful a cardinal enforcement suit does not preclude him from being prosecuted for crimes helium allegedly committed.