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The senior counsel informed the court: “What happened yesterday was that a person with immunity came to whisk him away to abort the arrest.” But Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, told the court that his client was absent from court because he had obtained an interim order from the High Court of Kogi State, restraining the EFCC from arresting and prosecuting the former governor.
The senior lawyer said a “bloodbath” was averted on account of the anti-graft agency’s professionalism in handling the stand-off between EFCC operatives who were trying to arrest Bello and the police officers attached to the residence obstructing the former governor’s arrest.
He cannot stand in the way of the Constitution.” But Bello’s lawyer, Muhammed, said his client was not in breach of any court order, arguing, among others, that an appeal on the suit was pending at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Pinheiro, however, refuted the explanation and informed the court that the said Kogi State High Court had delivered judgment in the matter yesterday; thus, the former governor could be arrested and prosecuted upon obtaining leave of court to do so.
Naija Newsreports that the judge fixed the date to decide on the EFCC’s bid to effect service of the19-count chargeand proof of evidence on Bello’s lawyers and his possible arraignment before the court on the charge.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Dr.
Pinheiro informed the court that Bello was being shielded and protected by a person of immunity from facing trial for alleged money laundering..
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