Produce yourself for arraignment – Appeal Court orders Yahaya Bello

The Court of Appeal has issued a directive compelling the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to present himself for arraignment. This ruling also bars Bello from taking any further legal steps in his defense until he is properly arraigned.

This decision overturns a previous judgment by the Kogi State High Court, which had seemingly shielded Bello from the ongoing legal proceedings. The former governor’s whereabouts have remained uncertain since an attempted arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at his Abuja residence several months ago. During the raid, Governor Usman Ododo intervened, thwarting the EFCC’s efforts to detain Bello.

Bello is currently facing prosecution by the EFCC on allegations of misappropriating over N80 billion during his eight-year tenure as governor. The Court of Appeal’s ruling marks a significant development in the case, intensifying the legal pressure on Bello to answer the charges against him.