The Court of Appeal has issued a directive for the former governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello, to surrender himself for arraignment.
The court also barred Bello from taking any further legal steps in the ongoing case until he complies with the order.
This ruling comes after the Court of Appeal set aside a previous judgment delivered by the Kogi State High Court, which had seemingly provided some relief to Bello. The decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the former governor.
Moreover, Bello’s whereabouts have remained unknown since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attempted to arrest him during a raid on his Abuja residence a few months ago.
The raid, aimed at arresting Bello in connection with allegations of corruption, was thwarted by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, who intervened, preventing operatives of the anti-graft agency from executing the arrest.
The EFCC is prosecuting Bello on charges of misappropriating over N80 billion during his eight-year tenure as Governor.
The case has attracted widespread attention, and the recent order from the Court of Appeal underscores the seriousness of the charges against Bello.
As the legal proceedings continue, the focus now shifts to whether Bello will comply with the court’s order and present himself for arraignment, a move that could significantly impact the trajectory of the case.