By The Nigerian Observer
April 18, 2024
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the agency from carrying out their lawful duties.
This is as the anti-graft agency says former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, would be arraigned in court on Thursday, and confirmed that the former governor was whisked away by his predecessor Usman Ododo on Wednesday.
The EFCC issued the warning and also confirmed the arraignment of the governor in separate statements signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday, Arise News reports.
The EFCC spent most part of Wednesday attempting to arrest the former governor.
The commissions spokesperson said that Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act, makes it an offence to prevent officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
According to him, culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years for such conduct.
This warning, Oyewale said becomes necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, operatives of the commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.
The commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organization, to obstruct its operations, as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions, the statement added.
The EFCC has insisted that it will arraign Bello before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday.
The commissions spokesperson said Bello would be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite, alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19- count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246,470, 088.88( Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
Bellos arraignment is said to be coming on the heels of a warrant of arrest and enrolment order granted the EFCC by the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
Count one of the charges reads: That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu( Still at large), sometime, in February, 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80, 246,470, 088.88( Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
Count 17 of the charges read: That you Yahaya Bello between 26th July 2021 to 6th April 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, aided E-Traders International Limited to conceal the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00( Three Billion, Eighty One Million Eight Hundred and Four Thouand Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) in account numbder 1451458080 domiciled in Access BankPlc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.
Count 18 of the charges reads: That you Yahaya Adoza Bello sometime in November 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly procured E-Traders international Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330.00( Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand , Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars) to account number 4266644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.
The Commission said its attempt to execute the Warrant of Arrest lawfully obtained against Bello met stiff resistance on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
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The Nigerian Observer is a daily newspaper published in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, since 1968 by the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL) and is owned by the Edo State Government
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