Legal activist urges EFCC to cease media trials of former Kogi governor

A constitutional lawyer, Wilfred Molokun has called on the EFCC to halt the media trials of ex-governor Yahaya Bello, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law.

Legal activist and constitutional lawyer, Wilfred Molokun, has raised concerns over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) alleged penchant for conducting media trials of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

Molokun criticized the anti-graft agency, accusing it of engaging in a media trial as part of its efforts to arrest and arraign Bello.

He deemed it inappropriate for an institution tasked with enforcing economic and financial crimes laws to disregard the rule of law in its pursuit to “persecute, prosecute, and humiliate” a former governor.

The call from Molokun comes in the wake of a judgment delivered by Justice Isa Jamil Abdullahi of the Kogi State High Court on April 17, 2024.

The judgment granted an order restraining the EFCC from further harassment or threats of arrest against Bello, based on pending criminal charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Molokun emphasized the importance of decorum and adherence to legal procedures, urging the EFCC to allow the trial court judge of the Federal High Court to rule on Bello’s application seeking to vacate the arrest warrant.

He stressed the need for the rule of law to prevail in all aspects of governance, including the conduct of law enforcement agencies like the EFCC.

The Federal High Court has slated May 10 for a ruling on Yahaya Bello’s application seeking to vacate the arrest warrant issued on April 17, 2024.

Bello’s legal team, led by Adeola Adedipe, SAN, argued the application on April 23, 2024, while Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, representing the EFCC, vehemently opposed it.

Adedipe highlighted the necessity for the court to set aside the arrest warrant, particularly as it was issued before the formal filing of charges.

He pointed out that the EFCC had made an application for substituted service of charge documents after Bello’s lead lawyer declined to accept them in open court.