Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has requested the transfer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) case against him to Kogi State.
Bello contends that since the alleged offense occurred during his tenure as governor, it is fitting for the legal proceedings to be held there.
The EFCC has been investigating Bello for allegations of financial misconduct and misuse of public funds during his time in office. Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had set aside the contempt proceedings initiated by Bello against the EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede.
The Court of Appeal had granted an ex parte motion to stay the contempt application proceedings against Olukoyede filed by Bello. Presided over by Justice Joseph O.K. Oyewole, with assistance from Hon. Justice P. C. Obiora JCA and Hon. Justice Okon Abang JCA, the court consequently granted the EFCC’s application to serve the appeal processes by substituted means on the former governor.
Olukoyede was summoned to appear before the Kogi State High Court in May to explain why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying its orders following a siege on Bello’s Abuja home. This siege occurred after the court ruled in favor of Bello in the fundamental human rights suits he filed.
However, the EFCC Chairman appealed the trial court’s ruling and sought to stay the court proceedings. The Kogi State High Court had ruled that the EFCC chair had carried out actions that the Court had restrained on February 9, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion.
In a unanimous judgment on Thursday, the three-man panel of justices, Justice A.M. Talba, Justice D. Z. Senchi, and Justice Joseph Oyewole, set aside the proceedings. Justice Oyewole, delivering the lead judgment, overruled the respondent’s preliminary objection on technical grounds. The appellate court noted that the high court judge failed to extend the orders of February 9, 2024, in its final judgment on April 17, 2024, rendering the second issue raised by the respondent on the interim order an academic exercise.
