Court Adjourns Until Oct 30 As Yahaya Bello Heads To Supreme Court

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the alleged money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello until Oct. 30, 2024.

The adjournment by Justice Emeka Nwite came as  Alhaji Bello moved to the Supreme Court to file an appeal seeking to set aside the bench warrant issued for his arrest by the court on April 17.

When the matter came up for hearing, the Defence Counsel, A.M. Adoyi, drew the court’s attention to the fact that the issue of arraignment of the defendant was the subject matter of an appeal already entered by him at the Supreme Court.

Adoyi added that he would like to draw the court’s attention to the appeal cognizant of the affidavit of record filed on September 23.

‘The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null or to pull the rug out of the feet of the Supreme Court’ he submitted .

Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, however, told the court that the Defendant’s Counsels were turning the courtroom into a place for entertainment. 

He said, ‘Secondly, an appeal the defendant filed at the court of appeal disputing the mode of service of the charge and proof of evidence on their counsel was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on the 28th of August this year.

The Court of Appeal said the mode of service was good and proper service. The appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself. But they took another step’.

Recall that the former governor had submitted himself to the EFCC last Wednesday, accompanied by the governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, but the EFCC had  reportedly refused to interrogate or detain him.

It was later reported that EFCC officers allegedly laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja to arrest the governor at night.

Arguing against the Defendant’s applications, Pinheiro said, ‘They have three applications on this – two before your lordship and one before the Supreme Court. I will now urge your lordship to demonstrate audacity of coercive power on him’. 

Adoyi, Bello’s lawyer, however, argued that the life issue of the matter slated for today (Wednesday), which is the arraignment, ‘is subject to an appeal by the defendant at the Supreme Court’.

‘In the interest of justice, we should await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue’ he said.

Justice Emeka Nwite later noted that with the submission made by the counsel, he would have to decide  issues that were raised in one way or the other adding that he would have to adjourn to rule on the matter.

Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until 30th of October for ruling and arraignment-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you