In a hearing on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) expressed frustration over the absence of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, in court for his scheduled arraignment on N80.2 billion money laundering charges.
Lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, told Justice Emeka Nwite that Bello’s recent appearance at the EFCC’s parking lot, instead of the courtroom, was improper. Pinheiro emphasized that both the trial court and the Court of Appeal had explicitly directed Bello to appear in court for arraignment.
“There is no order for Yahaya Bello to appear at the EFCC car park; he was meant to be in court. The concerning part is that he arrived with an individual protected by immunity, surrounded by full security detail, which could have led to chaos,” Pinheiro argued. He also criticized Bello’s resistance to subsequent EFCC invitations to appear without his entourage.
Pinheiro further urged the court to impose sanctions on Bello’s counsel, A.M. Agboyi, accusing him of turning the proceedings into a spectacle. He requested the court refer Agboyi to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and sought permission to proceed with the trial in Bello’s absence.
Justice Nwite, noting the delays in the case, refrained from passing immediate judgment on the submissions and adjourned the matter until October 30, 2024, for arraignment and ruling.
Bello faces 18 counts of money laundering involving N80.2 billion, charges brought against him by the EFCC.
