April 25, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a notice of withdrawal to discontinue an appeal against an order of a Kogi State High Court restraining the agency from arresting Yahaya Bello, former governor of the state.
The embattled former governor had, in a bid to stop his arrest, approached the Kogi State High Court to enforce his fundamental rights. The court, in a ruling it delivered on February 9, issued an interim order that restrained the EFCC from inviting, arresting, or prosecuting the applicant over the subject matter of the charge against him, pending the determination of the suit.
Though the EFCC filed an appeal to set aside the interim order, the court, on April 17, delivered its judgment on Bello’s substantive suit. Specifically, Justice Abdullahi said the agency must not move against the applicant in respect of the charge, without the express permission of the Federal High Court.
The anti-graft agency, in a notice of discontinuance dated April 22, admitted that the appeal it brought against the said interim order was filed outside the time allowed by the law and has been overtaken by events.
It reads in part: “The Appellant herein intends to and do hereby wholly withdraw her appeal against the respondent in the above-mentioned appeal.
“This notice of withdrawal is predicated on the fact that on April 17, 2024, the application filed by the appellant herein was overtaken by the decision of the same High Court of Kogi State in the case of Alhaji Yahaya Bello Vs EFCC – Suit No: HCL/68m/2024, per A. I. Jamil.”
THEWILL reports that former governor Yahaya Bello is facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged complicity in money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of about N80.2 billion.
Justice Emeka Nwite had fixed May 10 to rule on an application the former governor filed to challenge the warrant of arrest that was issued against him.
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