From Kayode Lawal, Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the alleged money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, until October 30, 2024.
The adjournment by Justice Emeka Nwite came as ex-Gov. Bello approached the Supreme Court to file an appeal seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.
When the matter came up for hearing, the Defence Counsel, 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.
“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 out of the feet of the Supreme Court,” the Defendant’s lawyer said.
Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the Defendant’s Counsel were turning the court into a place for entertainment.
He recalled that an appeal 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 Court of Appeal said the mode of service was good and proper service. The appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself. But they took another step”, he argued.
It will be recalled that Bello submitted himself to the EFCC last Wednesday, accompanied by the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, but the EFCC reportedly refused to interrogate or detain him.
It was later reported that EFCC operatives allegedly laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja to arrest Bello same night.
Arguing against the Defendant’s applications, Pinheiro said: “They have 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.”
Adoyi however argued that the life issue of the matter slated for today (Wednesday), which is the arraignment, “is subject to an appeal by the defendant at the Supreme Court.”
“In the interest of justice, we should await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue,” he urged the court.
Justice Nwite said with the submission made by the counsel, he would have to decide the issues raised in one way or the other.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till October 30 for ruling and arraignment.
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