With court order, EFCC can arrest Yahaya Bello by force –SAN

Kayode Adeluola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has said that with a substantive court order, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) can use force to arrest former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

On Wednesday, dozens of the EFCC officials cordoned off the street leading to Bello’s residence in Abuja.

Subsequently, a Kogi State High Court in Lokoja restrained the EFCC from arresting and ddetainingthe ex-governor.

He was later whisked away by his successor, Ahmed Ododo to avoid arrest.

But during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Adeluola said irrespective of the conflicting order, EFCC can use force, if it has a court order justifying Bello’s arrest.

He said, “I think EFCC is trying to achieve its legal aim without breaking law and order. Many supporters of Yahaya Bello are outside there. But still the law has to be obeyed. If there is a substantive court order that can bend the order stopping EFCC from arresting Mr Yahaya Bello, I still believe that the commission has the right to use force to arrest him.

“If there is a court order saying he should be apprehended and signed by a judge, the EFCC has the authority to use any kind of force.

“We have two conflicting court orders. What should we do? Those who participated wrongly should also be brought to book.”