Court Fixes Date To Try Ex-Gov Bello Amid Plan To Order Soldiers To Invade Where He Is Hiding

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has slated April 23, 2024, to decide on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concerning an alleged N81 billion money laundering charge against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello.

The judge set the date to rule on the EFCC’s request to serve the 19-count charge and proof of evidence on Bello’s lawyers and to possibly arraign him before the court on the charge.

Dr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), lead counsel for the EFCC, stated, “What happened yesterday was that a person with immunity came to whisk him away to abort the arrest.”

However, Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, argued that his client was absent because he had obtained an interim order from the High Court of Kogi State, restraining the EFCC from arresting and prosecuting him.

But Pinheiro refuted this, stating that the Kogi State High Court had delivered judgment, allowing Bello’s arrest and prosecution.

Pinheiro emphasized, “Immunity is not attached to a home but to a person. We can invite the military to invade the building where he is being kept to execute the order of this court. What is edifying for him is to come to court and not to continue to play games.”

The judge fixed April 23 for ruling on the EFCC’s application.