The Court of Appeal in Abuja has mandated former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, to present himself for arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. This directive must be followed before any further proceedings in his ongoing legal case.
The ruling, delivered by Hon. Justice I.K. Amadi, was part of a unanimous decision by the Appeal Court Justices in response to an appeal filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) J.S. Okutepa on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The appeal challenged a judgment by Justice Isah Abdullahi Jamil of the Kogi State High Court, which had previously granted Bello protection from prosecution under the guise of enforcing his fundamental rights.
The Appeal Court condemned Justice Jamil’s ruling, describing it as “scandalous,” and asserted that the case at the trial court was an attempt to shield Bello from facing his criminal charges. The Justices emphasized that no court has the authority to prevent law enforcement agencies from carrying out their statutory duties.
Citing a previous ruling by Justice Oyewole in the case of EFCC vs. Yahaya Bello (CA/ABJ/CV/413/2024), the court upheld the EFCC’s appeal, deeming it “meritorious” and allowing it to proceed. The Justices invoked Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), compelling Bello to appear for arraignment in the case (Charge No.: FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022, FRN VS ALI BELLO & ANOR) before any other legal steps can be taken.
Yahaya Bello, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, faces a 19-count charge of money laundering totaling N80.2 billion. Despite numerous attempts by the EFCC, Bello has repeatedly refused to enter a plea in court.
