Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a warrant for the immediate arrest of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The warrant, issued on Wednesday, came in response to an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 17, 2024.
In the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, the EFCC requested the court to serve Bello with charges and evidence through substituted means, and sought an order for his immediate arrest for arraignment.
Justice Nwite directed that Bello be produced before the court on Thursday, April 18, for arraignment, stating, “an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing and/or issuing a warrant for the immediate arrest of the defendant to bring him before this honourable court for arraignment.”
It’s worth noting that a High Court in Lokoja, Kogi state, had previously restrained the EFCC from arresting Bello, citing concerns over his fundamental human rights. However, the EFCC appealed against this order, with the appeal scheduled for hearing on April 22.