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POLICE OFFICERS WHO PREVENTED YAHAYA BELLO’S ARREST COMMITTED CRIME – FALANA
Human rights lawyer, and Femi Falana, SAN, has said that no legal impediment could prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from prosecuting former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over allegations of embezzling N84 billion from state funds.
Responding to claims by Bello that the EFCC had violated a court order by attempting to arrest him regarding the alleged theft, Falana criticized the actions of police officers who interfered with the EFCC’s efforts to arrest Bello, labeling it a “grave criminal offence.”
He urged the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, to act decisively.
According to Falana, these officers should be immediately withdrawn from Bello’s residence and charged with obstruction of justice to maintain the integrity of the law enforcement process.
“Because of the foregoing, the police officers who prevented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from arresting the suspect have committed a grave criminal offence.
“The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun should withdraw the said police officers from the private residence of Mr. Bello without any delay and have them charged for obstruction of justice,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yahaya Bello has urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and its Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukayode, for allegedly disobeying court orders, after the Commission tried to arrest him in his Abuja residence on Wednesday.
The former governor maintained that Nigeria is not a lawless country, stating that a situation whereby law enforcers disregard the rule of law is a recipe for anarchy.
In a statement by his media aide Onogwu Muhammed in Abuja, the former Governor said: “Nigeria is not a lawless country. The EFCC’s alleged disobedience to court orders is a serious concern.
“We are aware of the total commitment of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the rule of law and can say categorically that the leadership of the EFCC, might have offered the agency on a platter of gold to desperate politicians to convert to their score-settling tool without minding the effect on its integrity and the image of Nigeria.”
He described the action of the the EFCC as an unfortunate one, and described the attempt of the EFCC to arrest him as a big dent on the fight against corruption.
It would be recalled that the EFCC on Wednesday tried to arrest Yahaya Bello. The EFCC operatives reportedly arrived at the Wuse Zone 4 residence of Bello at about 9: 30 am to arrest him but was obstructed by some operatives of the Nigerian Police Force.
