Former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Michael Aondoakaa, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, made an error in the handling of the investigation involving ex-Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello.
Aondoakaa said EFCC committed a fundamental error by including Bello in a charge that predated his tenure as governor.
Speaking with Arise Television, the former AGF said the former governor leveraged on the error by the EFCC to seek the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
”I think the controversy was unnecessary in case of Yahaya Bello. Because some of the details that are coming up are unnecessary.
”There was an ongoing case with Yahaya Bello to enforce his fundamental human rights. It was based on one particular case, which the EFCC amended a charge and included him. That is charge number 5502022, pending before the federal high court in Abuja.
”At the accusation in that charge, I think there was an error by EFCC. The error was that he was being roped there because he was governor, but they referred 2015. In 2015, the man said, I was not even a governor. I was a governor in 2016.
”That was a premise he went to enforce his fundamental human rights before a state high court, which the state high court and the federal high court have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce fundamental human rights.
”When he enforced the fundamental human right, there was an interlocutory order restraining the EFCC from arresting him pending the hearing of the case.
” Then the second aspect of the judge, the Kogi High Court say that if you want to have any additional charges to file against Yahaya Bello, don’t arrest him, but file him the charges in court.
”And so once charges are filed in court, the agency cannot arrest. It is the court that will issue the summons and serve on Yahaya Bello. And it’s the court that will now, if he doesn’t show up, the court can issue a bench warrant for his arrest
”So I’m thinking, and it’s the most wise thing to do in this matter, is to follow the order of the court, the Federal High Court. I don’t even see it necessary to appeal the order because I see the order being well-balanced.”
