Falana describes allegation about EFCC flouting court order on Bello as baseless
Human rights lawyer, Deji Ajare, has called on the speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Umar Yusuf, to impeach the current governor, Usman Ododo, citing cases of gross misconduct and obstruction of justice in attempts to save his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, who is currently being hunted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial crime amounting to N80.2 billion.
This comes after a formal declaration by the EFCC to take Bello into custody over alleged financial crime and the unexpected intervention of the incumbent governor, Ododo at the scene of the arrest. Ododo has been accused of allegedly harbouring a fugitive, obstruction of justice and misuse of state resources.
According to the statement by Ajare, the actions of the incumbent governor are condemnable as they contradict the principle of the rule of law and accountability, which is due to the good people of Kogi State.
He, therefore, implored the State House of Assembly to investigate the allegations leveled against the governor under the Nigerian Construction and to ascertain the truth and hold him accountable if the allegations are found to be true.
“In the light of the above allegations and the inherent potential breaches of statutory duties imposed by the Constitution and other relevant laws of our country, these actions, if proven true, amount to gross misconduct and warrant immediate investigation and commencement of impeachment proceedings.
“I hereby call on the Kogi State House of Assembly under your leadership to initiate a thorough inquiry into these allegations in accordance with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, to ascertain the truth and to hold Governor Ododo accountable if the allegations are found to be true.
“I also urge the Kogi State House of Assembly to cooperate with national law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, to ensure all individuals involved are available for questioning and to facilitate a smooth investigation,” the statement reads.
Relatedly, human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has discountenanced insinuations in some quarters that the EFCC disobeyed the orders of a Kogi State High Court by seeking to arrest and arraign Bello before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Falana, while weighing in on the issue of the propriety of the EFCC to apprehend Mr Bello, maintains that the allegation is completely baseless as the Kogi State High Court did not grant such wide orders. He said by filing charges of money laundering of over N80 billion against Mr Bello at a Federal High Court, the EFCC has diligently complied with the order of the Kogi State High Court.
He noted that the order made by a Federal High Court for the arrest of Mr Yahaya Bello for his arraignment is equally in line with the order of the Kogi State High Court.
“The Kogi State High Court specifically directed the EFCC to bring before the said Federal High Court, or any such appropriate Court, such criminal charge, allegation or complaint in respect of whereof the applicant is reasonably believed by the respondent to have committed any offence.
“Therefore, by filing charges of money laundering of over N80 billion against Mr Yahaya Bello at a Federal High Court, the EFCC has diligently complied with the order of the Kogi State High Court.
“In the same vein, the order made by a Federal High Court for the arrest of Mr Yahaya Bello for his arraignment is equally in line with the order of the Kogi State High Court,” he declared.
