It said the weapons were recovered between 2021 and 2023.

The defence’s application, a further affidavit in response to the opposition of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the initial bail application filed before the court, could not be heard because the EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, prayed for an adjournment to properly respond to it.

Granting the request and circulating the EFCC directive, the Nigeria Immigration Service in an internal circular seen by SaharaReporters directed its area and zonal commands to arrest Bello if seen. 

The EFCC on Thursday said in a bulletin that "anybody with information as to his whereabout should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest police station." 

The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, while ruling on the bail application filed through his lawyer on Thursday struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction.

The court also granted an Order of Mandamus to publish the Audited 2023 election-related incomes and expenses of all the registered political parties in Nigeria.

It said the decision was based on their involvement in significant corruption.

In a report published by BBC on Thursday, the media platform analysed how Mr Oyakhilome misquoted a clip from a TED talk Bill Gates gave in 2010 during one of his sermons in August 2023.

A Bloomberg report this week said Nigeria was burning through its foreign exchange reserves at a rate not seen in four years, raising concerns that the central bank was depleting its dollar holdings to support the naira after pledging it would allow the currency to float more freely.

According to the anti-corruption agency, Bello will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu.