Court Rejects EFCC’s Request To Arraign Yahaya Bello Without His Counsel, Adjourns Until Dec 13
- The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, adjourned sitting in the alleged N80 billion fraud case involving the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, until December 13, 2024 , for the Motion for abridgment and possible arraignment.
- Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the sitting in the interest of fair hearing, noting that the matter had been originally adjourned until January 21, 2025.
- During the court session on Friday, the former governor was asked why his lawyers were not in court and he said he was only informed of the sitting late Thursday night and so could not contact his lawyers to show up at the court.
- The EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, insisted that the Defendant’s plea should be taken.
- ‘What the law requires is the presence of the Defendant, not the presence of his lawyers’ he had argued but the judge however declined.
- While delivering his short ruling, Justice Nwite said, ‘The matter came up on the 30th of October 2024. It was adjourned till 21st January 2025. From the statement of the Defendant, his Lawyers are not aware of today’s date. In the interest of fair hearing, I will not proceed for arraignment.
- The prosecution should serve the Defendant’s Lawyer with the application for abridgment of time while we come back to take that.
- This matter is peculiar. It is peculiar in the sense that we have already agreed on a date, which is in January…It will be unfair if the matter is taken without the defendant’s counsel. It would be a different thing if the defendant had no counsel’ the Judge said.
- The Court suggested December 13, 2024 for the Motion for abridgment.
- However, the EFCC counsel applied that the date be for Motion and possible arraignment and that the Court should order that the defendant should remain in EFCC custody till the 13th of December when he is to appear before the Court.
- The judge agreed and gave the order while directing that hearing notices should be issued and served on the defendant’s counsel,the Defendant ,the judge noted, should remain in the EFCC’s custody till December 13.
- Recall that at the last hearing on October 30, Justice Nwite had adjourned arraignment till January 21, 2025. But the EFCC had applied for the abridgment of the adjourned date initially fixed for arraignment.
- The Defendant’s lawyers were, however, not put on notice.
- Former governor Bello is already in EFCC custody over a fresh N110 billion charges before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
- The ruling on his bail application was adjourned till December 10, while he and his Co-Defendants are to remain in the Commission’s custody till that date-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
