Constitutional Lawyer Ewa Okpo has characterized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)‘s actions regarding the investigation of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello as a “mischief trial.”
In an interview on Arise TV, Okpo provided a detailed analysis of the legal intricacies surrounding the EFCC’s approach to the case.
Criticizing the EFCC’s handling of the matter, Okpo accused the commission of abusing court processes to target Bello.
He highlighted the procedural steps the EFCC should have followed, including inviting Bello for questioning and obtaining court orders where necessary.
He also condemned the EFCC’s attempt to arrest Bello without adhering to proper legal procedures.
Expressing concern over the EFCC’s disregard for court orders restraining law enforcement agencies from harassing or arresting individuals, Okpo stressed the importance of upholding court orders and promoting accountability within law enforcement agencies.
He, however, commended the court’s intervention in the matter, emphasizing its role in ensuring adherence to the rule of law.
Okpo further reiterated the necessity of the EFCC functioning as a watchdog while emphasizing the importance of oversight to prevent abuses of power.
He underscored the need for law enforcement agencies to uphold due process and respect court orders in their investigative and prosecutorial activities.
Speaking on the EFCC’s procedural errors regarding the case, especially in the law courts, Okpo said: ”Instead of them approaching the court, what they ought to have done would have been to approach the Federal High Court, file an information, inform the Federal High Court that there is an information.
”And then the Federal High Court pushed on to Section 389, which would now be the one to effect the service of that information on Mr Yahaya Bello.
”Rather, the EFCC sought, obtained, and ordered a warrant to arrest Mr. Yahaya Bello. When there is a subsistence injunction restraining them from arresting and harassing the man.”
Newsng had earlier reported that another legal practitioner Daniel Bwala criticized the EFCC for the allegations against former governor Bello.
Bwala, a former media aide to Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, condemned the “trial by media” approach by the agency.
The lawyer who was reacting to the recent press briefing by the EFCC chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, accused the commission’s boss of conducting public discussions akin to a courtroom trial, where media outlets act as judge and jury.
