Yahaya Bello money laundering case adjourned to October

Yahaya Bello money laundering case adjourned to October

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 30, 2024 for the hearing of the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) borders on allegations of financial misconduct during the ex-governor’s tenure.

But Yahaya Bello has taken the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn an arrest warrant issued against him by the trial court on April 17, 2024.

His defence team argued that the warrant should be invalidated.

During the latest hearing on Wednesday, Bello’s Counsel, A.M. Adoyi, notified the court that the arraignment was already under review by the Supreme Court.

He supported this claim with an affidavit of record, officially filed on September 23.

“The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal 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 Bello’s lawyer said.

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Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, however, in his submission told the court that the Defendant’s Counsel were turning the court into a place for entertainment.

He said, “Secondly, an appeal the defendant filed at the Court of Appeal disputing the mode of service of the charge and proof of evidence on their counsel was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on the 28th of August this year.

“The Court of Appeal said the mode of service was good and proper service. The appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself. But they took another step.”

Pinheiro added, “They have three applications on this – two before your lordship and one before the Supreme Court. I will now urge your lordship to demonstrate audacity of coercive power on him.”

On his part, Adoyi, argued that the life issue of the matter slated for today (Wednesday), which is the arraignment, “is subject to an appeal by the defendant at the Supreme Court.”

“In the interest of justice, we should await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue,” he urged the court.

Justice Emeka Nwite said with the submissions made by the counsels, he would have to decide the issues raised, and adjourned to October 30, 2024 to rule on the matter.

Yahaya Bello money laundering case adjourned to October