A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from infringing on the fundamental human rights of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor.

In a two hour judgment delivered on Wednesday, at the High Court 4 and presided over by Hon. Justice I.A Jamil, in suit no HCL/68/M/2020, the court restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant except as authorised by the Court. This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given.

The judgment followed the suit brought before the court by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the applicant, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The Court equally restrained the respondents from continuing to persecuting the Applicant.

Earlier in the judgement, the Court dismissed the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC.

The Applicant’s Counsel SA Abbas and MS Yusuf, described the judgment as landmark while the

Defendant Counsel, T.U Odima and Patrick O. Jibril also aligned themselves to the judgment, describing it as thorough.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly rescued one of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by terrorists in 2014.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said the girl, Lydia Simon, was rescued by troops of 82 division task force battalion in Ngwoza LGA of Borno.

The publication said Lydia, who is five months pregnant, was rescued alongside her three children on April 17.

She was among the 276 students abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in April 2014.

The publication added that Lydia claimed to be from Pemi town in Chibok.

Makama said Lydia escaped from a camp located at Ali Ngulde in Mandara mountain where she was held captive for 10 years.

The publication said the girl surrendered to troops of 82 division task force battalion at Ngoshe in Gwoza LGA of the state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct its officers from carrying out their lawful duties.

The warning comes after Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, “rescued” Yahaya Bello, his predecessor, from the commission’s siege in Abuja on Wednesday.

The EFCC operatives had earlier restricted movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

But after a few hours, Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.

The anti-graft agency had named Bello in an amended money laundering charge filed against Alli Bello, chief of staff to the incumbent governor of Kogi.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the agency, said the warning became necessary due to the “increasing tendency of persons and groups under investigation by the commission” to “take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC”.

”Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years,“ the statement reads.

“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order. Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions.”