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Appear for your trial, Appeal Court orders Yahaya Bello
Appear for your trial, Appeal Court orders Yahaya Bello
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the warrant of arrest issued against the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in the 19-count money laundering charge pending against him before a Federal High Court.
In a judgment yesterday, a three-member panel of the appellate court was unanimous in holding that Justice Emeka Nwite (of the Federal High Court, Abuja) who issued the arrest warrant on April 17 appropriately applied the law.
The court directed Bello to present himself before the court to answer the charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the charge, the EFCC accused Bello among others, of allegedly laundering N80, 246,470, 088.88 belonging to Kogi State.
The appellate court also held that Justice Nwite was right in declining to hear a notice of objection filed by Bello to challenge the competence of the charge.
It faulted the claim by Bello that the EFCC flouted an order by the High Court of Kogi State, sitting in Lokoja, prohibiting his prosecution.
The Court of Appeal made these findings in three unanimous judgments delivered on three appeals, two by Bello and one by the EFCC.
The court dismissed the two by Bello, holding that they were unmeritorious and allowed the one by the EFCC. Justice Kenneth Amadi read the judgments.
On the Bello’s appeal, the court held that the service of the charge on the ex-governor, through his lawyer, was valid and proper.
It held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 did not specify the manner in which an application for substituted service of the charge should be made.
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The appellate court also upheld the order earlier made by the Federal High Court for substituted service of the charge on Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN).
The court rejected the appeal in which Bello had challenged the decision of the Federal High Court insisting that he must first be arraigned before his objection to the competence of the charge could be considered.
The Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court was right when it ruled that it would no longer entertain any application, including the appellant’s preliminary objection challenging its jurisdiction.
It held that there “is no dichotomy between pre and post arraignment objection, adding, Bello’s preliminary objection could not be taken without him first being arraigned.
The Court of Appeal held that the appellant having been aware of his charge in the media space and also published by the EFCC, but refused to appear to take his plea, the trial court was right in issuing a warrant for his arrest.
In its judgment on another appeal by the EFCC, the Appeal Court held that no court has the power, in the guise of enforcement of fundamental rights, to make an order shielding and restraining the EFCC from arresting and or prosecuting anybody.
It held that the order made by the trial High Court in Kogi prejudiced the criminal charge pending at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The appellate court then ordered Bello to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to take his plea in respect of the charge before taking any further steps could be taken.
Appear for your trial, Appeal Court orders Yahaya Bello
News
Nigerian deportees from UAE arrive in Abuja airport
Nigerian deportees from UAE arrive in Abuja airport
Nigerian deportees from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have arrived in the country, as revealed by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
The deportees, numbering 400, were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Wednesday.
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Sharing information about the arrival on X, the aforementioned news platform penned: “Four hundred Nigerians, including 90 females and 310 males, have been deported from the United Arab Emirates back to Nigeria.
“They were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other stakeholders.”
Nigerian deportees from UAE arrive in Abuja airport
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Tinubu visits King Charles at Buckingham Palace
Tinubu visits King Charles at Buckingham Palace
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently visited King Charles at Buckingham Palace, aiming to reinforce diplomatic ties and partnerships between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
According to presidential aide Segun Dada, the discussions centered on deepening the long-standing relationship between both nations.
This visit marks the second time President Tinubu and King Charles have met, following their initial encounter in November 2023 during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in Dubai, UAE.
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While specific details of their discussions were not disclosed, the ongoing engagement between Nigeria and the UK underscores shared interests in addressing global challenges and fostering economic development.
This high-level interaction reflects the importance both countries place on collaboration in areas such as trade, climate action, and international diplomacy.
Tinubu visits King Charles at Buckingham Palace
News
Nigerian man bags 12 years jail for $200K fraud in US
Nigerian man bags 12 years jail for $200K fraud in US
A Nigerian citizen, has been found guilty of aiding in an attempt to defraud a North Dakota law firm through false digital transfers. According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, between November and December of 2020, Christopher Agbaje, along with others, purported to be a business owner in a legal dispute with a Bismarck company, and entered into a fake attorney-client relationship with the firm. After a series of false statements and promises, the firm received a parcel containing a fraudulent Citibank check payable in the amount of $198,850.00, which was deposited in their bank account. At the purported business owner’s request, the firm then sent a $198,336.68 wire transfer to Agbaje’s business partner.
After the transfer, Agbaje directed his partner to initiate a fake $180,000 international transfer to conceal the money’s location, ownership, and control. Upon hearing that law enforcement officers were actively conducting a fraud investigation on the transfer, he reportedly instructed his business partner to “gain leverage”, “press on”, and “claim naivety.”
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Agbaje was originally extradited from the United Kingdom to North Dakota in February 2024, where he faced five different charges. While he was cleared of Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud in May, the suspect was also found guilty of Money Laundering, Aiding and Abetting Wire Fraud, and Aiding and Abetting Mail Fraud.On September 11, Agbaje was sentenced to 142 months in prison, and must pay the firm $188,935.74 in restitution.“This strong sentence shows that international fraudsters cannot hide from justice,” United States Attorney Mac Schneider said. “When North Dakotans are the victims of fraud, our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will work internationally to hold defendants accountable in a federal courtroom in Bismarck or Fargo.”
“Today’s sentencing demonstrates that no fraud scheme is beyond the reach of justice, no matter its complexity or scope,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Those who engage in fraudulent schemes will be met with swift and decisive action. The FBI will continue to work with partners across the globe to protect the financial security of the American people from those who seek to exploit it.”
Nigerian man bags 12 years jail for $200K fraud in US
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