A federal high court in Abuja has again adjourned the alleged money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Yahaya Bello, former Kogi governor.
Emeke Nwite, presiding judge, adjourned the case following
Bello’s absence in court.
After filing a 19-count charge, the EFCC has been seeking to
arraign Bello since April, over allegations bordering on money laundering to
the tune of N80 billion.
At the resumed court session on Wednesday, the former governor
was represented by A.M. Adoyi.
Excusing the absence of his client, Adoyi said two appeals
have been filed before the supreme court seeking to set aside the arrest
warrant issued by the trial court on April 17, and to set aside the order of
the court of appeal directing Bello to appear for his arraignment.
He said he would like to draw the court’s attention to the
appeal by virtue of an affidavit of record filed on September 23.
“The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024.
That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await 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 from off the
feet of my learned justices of the supreme court,” Adoyi said.
Responding, Kemi Pinheiro, EFCC counsel, submitted that the
defence was taking the court for granted.
He said the prosecution lawyer has been pushed by his
seniors to turn the court into a vaudeville.
“This court is not a vaudeville, a place of variety
entertainment,” Pinheiro said.
“No party or person must turn the court into a place of
entertainment. Courts must resist it.
“This court has
adjourned on four different occasions for the defendant to present himself for
arraignment.
“Rather than respect the sanctity of the constitution and
this court, the defendant through his lawyers has deployed all manner of
chicanery.
“On the last adjournment, they assured that the defendant
would be presented in court today. That was why your lordship granted a long
adjournment.
“An appeal the defendant filed is disputing the mode of
service of the proof of evidence and the charge was dismissed by the court of
appeal on August 28.
“The court of appeal
said the mode of service was good and proper service. The appellant shall not
take any further steps until he submits himself.
“Notwithstanding this order, the lawyers have now filed
another application before your lordship in total disregard of the court of
appeal’s judgment that they should not take any steps until the defendant takes
his plea.
“I urge your lordship
to demonstrate audacity in using its coercive powers to demonstrate that this
court is not a vaudeville.”
‘ARRAIGNMENTS ARE NOT
DONE IN CAR PARKS’
Referring to Bello’s visit to the commission’s complex last
Wednesday, Pinheiro said: “There is no order where my lord directed the
defendant to present himself at the EFCC car park. Arraignments are not done in
EFCC car park.”
Responding, Adoyi urged the court to expunge Pinheiro’s
claims.
“The new applications present entirely new facts, and by
virtue of the rules of professional conduct 20 and 24, I have a duty under the
law to represent and defend my client. I have a duty to accept because I have
not undermined the court,” he said.
“In the interest of justice, the court should await the
ruling of the supreme court.”
Nwite said with the submission made by the counsel, he would
have to decide the issues raised one way or the other.
Consequently, the judge adjourned the matter to October 30
for ruling and possible arraignment.
On September 18, Bello’s media office said the ex-governor
had honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation.
The EFCC immediately denied that Bello was in its custody,
restating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was still a wanted
man.
However, Bello’s media office responded by saying the
politician was not interrogated when he visited the EFCC office and was turned
back.
The media office of the former governor also alleged that
operatives of the EFCC laid siege to the Kogi government lodge in Abuja in a
bid to forcefully arrest Bello.
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