Alleged Money Laundering: Court Adjourns Suit Against Yahaya Bello To October 30

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja has adjourned the alleged money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, until October 30, 2024.

The adjournment came as Bello moved to the Supreme Court to file an appeal seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.

At the day’s proceedings, counsel to Bello, 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.

He said he would like to draw the court’s attention to the appeal by virtue of the affidavit of record filed on September 23.

He added that the appropriate thing to do was to wait for 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.

Counsel for the EFCC and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, however, told the court that the defendant’s counsels were turning the court into a place for entertainment.

He added that an appeal that 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 appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself. But they took another step.”

Arguing against the Defendant’s applications, Pinheiro said, they had 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.

Counsel to Bello, however, argued that the issue of the matter slated for today (Wednesday), which is the arraignment, was subject to an appeal by the defendant at the Supreme Court.

He urged that the court should await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue in the interest of justice.

Justice Emeka Nwite said with the submission made by the counsel, he would have to decide the issues raised in one way or the other.

He said he would have to adjourn to rule on the matter.

He subsequently adjourned the matter to 30th of October for ruling and arraignment.

The former governor had last week said he honoured the invitation of the EFCC while accompanied by the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, but was not interrogated or detained by the Commission. The Commission, however, refuted his claim, insisted that he is still wanted.

The EFCC later laid siege on the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja in a failed attempt to arrest the ex-governor at night of Wednesday last week.