Operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have taken control of security at the Federal High Court in Abuja as the trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on fraud-related charges resumes today.
The agents, equipped with various firearms, obstructed a key access road to the court complex using one of their vehicles. In addition to firearms, trained dogs and other security equipment are stationed at the court entrance, and personnel adorned in EFCC-branded attire are overseeing operations.
Attorneys and litigants attempting to enter the court are undergoing extensive security checks, with some turned away at the entrance. Several attorneys expressed discomfort with the heavy-handed security measures, questioning the need for such a forceful presence, particularly since many have no connection to Bello’s case.
As tensions rose, the atmosphere outside the court grew chaotic, with litigants voicing their frustrations over the restrictions imposed on them, even as they arrived for unrelated legal matters.
On December 13, 2024, the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted Bello bail set at N500 million, requiring two sureties of equal value. This followed his not-guilty plea to the 19 counts of charges filed against him by the EFCC, including an alleged N80 billion money laundering scheme.
Bello’s legal representation includes Joseph Daudu, SAN, while Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, leads the EFCC’s legal team, with the case proceeding before Justice Emeka Nwite.
