Former Governor of Kogi State seeks to stop ongoing legal proceedings over N80.2 billion money laundering charges
Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has taken his legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Supreme Court, aiming to halt an arrest warrant issued against him.
The EFCC had earlier declared Bello wanted for his alleged involvement in money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion, with the case continuing to draw public attention.
Bello is currently facing a 19-count charge of money laundering brought forward by the EFCC. His arraignment was scheduled to take place at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.
However, his legal team, led by Mr. A. M. Adoyi, requested that the trial be put on hold due to an ongoing appeal at the Supreme Court.
According to Adoyi, the appeal, filed on September 23, seeks to overturn the arrest warrant issued against the former governor on April 17.
In his argument, Adoyi urged the court to await the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal before proceeding with the arraignment, stating, “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 EFCC, represented by senior counsel Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, disagreed with the defense’s request and accused Bello’s legal team of attempting to delay the trial and undermine the judicial process. Pinheiro also suggested that Bello’s lawyer should face disciplinary action for aiding in what he described as a mockery of the judiciary.
Pinheiro argued, “My lord, what counsel to the defendant has demonstrated before this court is nothing but the audacity of irresponsibility.” He further urged the court to use its authority to send a strong message, stating that the court “is not a place for entertainment.”
The EFCC counsel also criticized Bello for failing to show up for trial, noting that the former governor had reportedly gone to the EFCC’s office but remained in the car park.
According to Pinheiro, Bello’s actions, accompanied by a high-ranking official with immunity, could have sparked a confrontation, calling the situation “an invitation to anarchy.”
“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.
Following the arguments from both sides, Justice Emeka Nwite postponed the ruling on the case until October 30.
