Yahaya Bello, immediate-past governor of Kogi State, has been served with charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding an alleged N80.2 billion.
Bello was served the accusations by his attorney, Abdulwahab Muhammad (SAN), according to the EFCC, following a ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that Bello should be served by his attorney.
After Bello declined to show up for court, the judge made her decision.
A statement by Dele Oyewole, EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity of the Commission, reads: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Yahaya Bello alongside Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246, 470,089.88k (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eighty Kobo).”
Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), had earlier, on Tuesday, prayed the court to nullify the arrest warrant granted by the Commission against Bello.
“The court is expected to do justice at all times. A warrant of arrest cannot be hanging on Bello’s neck when we are in this court. It appears to us that the defendant will not get justice because the court granted a warrant of arrest before service.”
However, EFCC lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), in response, urged the court to turn a deaf ear to any motion from Bello’s legal team until the defendant is physically present in court for his arraignment.
“The stage we are in now is to determine the whereabouts of the defendant. He cannot be in his house while the trial proceeds without him coming here to take his plea. My Lord, this is a criminal matter, not a civil matter, he must come and take his plea. It is a matter of over N80 billion. All these applications by the defendant are to prevent his arraignment and frustrate the commencement of trial,” he said.
Justice Nwite, thereafter, adjourned ruling on the defence’s application, seeking a revocation of the arrest warrant on the former governor till May 10, 2024.
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