In a dramatic turn of event, former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello billed to be arraigned at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Wednesday took over crowd control of the courtroom when Justice Maryann Anenih walked out.
Justice Anenih, who came in to take the plea of the former governor and his co-defendants, rose abruptly and announced not to come back until there was sanity in the courtroom.
Shortly after the judge left the courtroom, Bello who sat in the front of the courtroom stood up and moved to the surging crowd.
He immediately directed his followers and sympathisers to vacate their seats and leave the courtroom.
His actions doused the tension without resistance, as the followers left the courtroom one after the other.
To ensure sanity in the courtroom, the former governor sat at the entrance to the courtroom and ensured that none of his followers disobeyed the order of the court.
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Meanwhile, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN is leading the Federal Government legal team for the arraignment while Joseph Dauda, SAN, leads the legal team of the former governor in the 16-count charges.
Bello was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in April 2024.
The EFCC had filed 19 charges against Bello and his nephews, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for allegedly laundering over N80 billion.
Since filing the charges against the former governor, the commission has not been able to bring him to court for arraignment.
At the last hearing on November 14, the EFCC had sought adjournment to Wednesday, November 27 in the fresh case it instituted against Bello, saying the 30-day window was still running for the summons earlier issued.
The EFCC, however, admitted his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, to administrative bail and prayed to the court for an extension of time for the 1st Defendant to appear.
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