The Court of Appeal, Abuja division on Friday, issued an order stopping the contempt suit filed by the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Recall that Bello had filed a fundamental human rights suit against the EFCC to protect himself from being arrested and detained.

Justice Isa Abdullahi Jamil of the Kogi State High Court delivered a ruling on February 9, where he issued an interim order restraining the EFCC from arresting, detaining, persecuting, or prosecuting Bello pending the determination of the suit.

The anti-graft on its part, filed an appeal to set aside the ruling but later withdrew the appeal because it has been overtaken by events.

READ ALSO: Yahaya Bello: Abuja American School Refunds $760,000 To EFCC

This is after the commission filed a suit against Bello at the Federal High Court Abuja that issued an arrest warrant against the ex-governor

However, Bello again approached the Kogi High Court and filed a contempt suit before Justice Jamil.

Consequently, the anti-graft agency approached the Appeal Court to stay the contempt proceedings initiated by Bello against its chairman, Ola Olukoyode.

A three-member panel of the appellate court presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole, assisted by Justice P. C. Obiora and Justice Okon Abang, granted the request of EFCC, staying the execution and contempt proceeding.

READ ALSO: EFCC Withdraws Appeal Against Former Kogi Gov, Bello

A team of lawyers led by Jibrin Okutepa, (SAN), alongside Eko Ejembi Eko, (SAN) Abdulkareem Musa, Esq, and David Ojogbane Akogu, Esq all appeared for EFCC.

In granting the orders, Justice Oyewole held that the motion ex-parte had merit and adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to the 20th day of May 2024.

The court in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/413/2024, also ordered for substituted service of all the processes in the case to be pasted at No 9 Bengazi Steet Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, being the last known address of Yahaya Bello.

The justice said, “The 2nd motion moved for an order to serve the respondent Yahaya Bello all the processes in the appeal by substituted means through the mode stated on the face of the motion is hereby granted.

“The court grants the motion that processes be served through substituted means by pasting on the gate of the last known address of the respondent”.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reassured residents of over 22 communities in Inikorogha, Ovia South West Local Government Area (LGA) of adequate security to engender peace and progress.

The governor gave the reassurance while addressing members of the communities, at the Government House, Benin City, when they staged a peaceful protest over plans to withdraw the security agencies maintaining peace in the area.

“I have been informed about your peculiar case. When I heard that the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja has instructed that the security be withdrawn from your communities, I mandated that a letter should be written to the Inspector General of Police.

“First, I am the Chief Security Officer of this State. Constitutionally, I have the responsibility to secure you and I will therefore communicate with the Inspector General. They cannot remove security men from your community without first letting me know. I heard that it is the resolution of the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives do not govern Edo State.

“If anybody representing us in the House of Representatives goes to misrepresent us, that must be corrected. I will make sure it is done. In the meantime, keep your peace and I will make sure security men return to your communities so that you can keep away those bandits.

“We know what they are trying to achieve. They are not happy that we have stopped the illegal logging in your community which they are making money from. So they have gone to Abuja to try to bribe them to withdraw security so that they can come into your communities and continue to cause deforestation. As long as I am your governor, I will not allow it. Please just be peaceful and wait for further communication from me.”

The Chairman of the Elders Council of the communities, Philip Polo, thanked the governor for the improved security in Inikorogha community, noting that the essence of the peaceful protest was to inform the governor of the planned withdrawal of special forces from their community by some elements that are not happy with the peace in Inikorogha.

He said, “Our main protest is about security and safety in our community and the riverine area as a whole. For the past seventeen years, Inikorogha has been under siege by criminals and kidnappers. They killed as if they created human beings. Everybody was scared, people ran away from their homes. We had sleepless nights.”

The management of BUA Group, the cement producing company with plant located in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, which is leveraging on the gains of the conducive business environment made possible by the Godwin Obaseki led administration’s ease of doing business policies has mobilized its workforce to the much talked about failed portion of the federal government owned Ekpoma – Abuja federal highway.

Much kudos for this goes to Governor Obaseki who had intimated the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Engr. David Umahi of the deplorable state of the road in and exacted a pledge from him to act immediately during a closed door meeting they held at the governor’s lodge in Benin City, in the course of his inspection of some ongoing federal road projects in Edo State in early March.

While addressing the media at the end of the fruitful meeting, the Minister had given kudos to governor for the high standard of some projects he saw that his administration is executing adding that he is not cutting corners to make sure that the best and most desirable is what is available for the people of the state.

READ ALSO: Edo Poll: PDP Inaugurates Campaign Council, Obaseki Mocks Legacy Group, APC

Much later that day while still in company of the Minister to monitor the situation at Ekpoma, the Edo State Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Ethan Uzamere, stated that immediate remedial actions are set for Benin-Auchi Road with Dangote and BUA Cement. According to him, long-term plans involve road concessioning for sustainable infrastructure beyond the current administration.

He disclosed that a comprehensive plan has been proposed to alleviate the ongoing challenges, adding that a phased approach will be implemented, with one session dedicated to essential palliative measures, including the application of durable materials such as concrete.

The Commissioner promised to contribute an official land for the development project noting that efforts will be directed towards engaging relevant authorities and community stakeholders to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted execution of the proposed improvements. This collaborative approach aims to address the long-standing issues on Ekpoma Road and enhance the overall infrastructure for the benefit of the community.