Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, has taken the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, to court over the agency’s declaration of his wanted status.
A 19-count indictment was brought against him by the anti-graft agency due to his purported involvement in the N80.2 billion money laundering scheme during his tenure in government. His arraignment was scheduled for this Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, when the case was called, the former governor’s lawyers, lead by A. M. Adoyi, informed the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, that they had a pending appeal before the Supreme Court, which was filed on September 23. Adoyi stated that the appeal seeks to set aside the arrest order issued against his client on April 17.
As a result, he urged the trial court to postpone the scheduled arraignment until the decision of the Supreme Court appeal was determined.
“My lord, the appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. We believe that the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeals, 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,” the defence lawyer pleaded.
But Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, the EFCC’s attorney, pleaded with the court to refer Bello’s attorney to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for punishment, charging him of aiding his client in defaming the judiciary’s integrity.
He pointed out that the attorney was a member of Bello’s defense team when the court decided not to consider the defendant’s application going forward unless he appeared in court.
“My lord, what counsel to the defendant has demonstrated before this court is nothing but the audacity of irresponsibility. I urge this court to impose its coercive powers to let him know that the court is not a place for entertainment,” he submitted.
Furthermore, the prosecution counsel stated that rather than presenting himself for trial, the former governor claimed he went to the EFCC’s office.
“What is worrisome is that the defendant, by his own admission, went to EFCC’s car park holding the hands of a person with immunity, who came with full compliment of all the paraphernalia and security of his office.
“The implication is that if there was an attempt to extricate him from the person with immunity, there would have been an altercation and an invitation to anarchy.
“By their own admission too, an invitation that was sent later in the day for him to come alone was resisted,” EFCC’s lawyer added.
Judge Nwite postponed the decision until October 30 after hearing arguments from both parties.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli