Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s money laundering case till October 30

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission until October 30, 2024, for a ruling.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the adjournment following Bello’s move to appeal to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.

During the hearing, defence counsel A.M. Adoyi informed the court that the matter of Bello’s arraignment, which is under appeal, had been taken to the Supreme Court.

He noted that the Court of Appeal ruling on August 28, which directed Bello to appear before Justice Nwite for arraignment, had been challenged at the apex court.

Adoyi also brought the court’s attention to the September 23 affidavit of record filed in connection with the appeal.

“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,” He said.

The EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro wasn’t having any of it. He told the court that the defendant and his counsel had turned the court into a place for entertainment.

He said the various applications are a gross abuse of court, he urged the trial judge to use his powers and sanction Adoyi for contempt of court and being irresponsible.

Pinheiro said, “The first thing I want to say is that this court is not vaudeville (a vaudeville is a place of variety entertainment). No party must turn a court into a vaudeville, that court must resist it.

“This court has adjourned four times for the defendant to appear for arraignment.

“The defendant has refused to respect the Constitution and this court. Rather than respect the sanctity of this court, the defendant and his solicitors have deployed all manner of deception to achieve a purpose.”

Arguing against the defendant’s applications, Pinheiro said, “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.”

“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 steps until he submits himself. But they took another step. The appellant was ordered to present himself for arraignment and not take any further steps on this until he honours this order.”

He added, “Mr Adoyi has now filed an application before your lordship in total disregard against the lordship’s orders that said they should not take any further steps until the defendant appears for his arraignment. He has shown total disregard and scorn.

“Consequently sir I will be urging your lordship to hold Mr Adoyi in contempt and refer Mr Adoyi and Adewale to the legal practitioners disciplinary committee for sanctions” Pinheiro said.

Adoyi, however, 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 submission made by the counsel, he would have to decide the issues raised in one way or the other.

He said he would have to adjourn to rule on the matter.

He, therefore, adjourned the matter to October 30 for ruling and arraignment.

Bello is facing a 19 count bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion.

Recall that it was reported that Bello submitted himself to the EFCC last Wednesday, accompanied by the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo but the EFCC reportedly refused to interrogate or detain him.

It was later reported that EFCC operatives allegedly laid siege on the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja to arrest the Governor at night.

Pinehero noted that Bello’s invite to the commission was for him alone and not to come in the company of anybody.

He said, “I have looked at all the court orders there was nowhere that your lordship directed that Yahaya Bello should present himself for arraignment in the EFCC car park. Arraignment is not done in the EFCC car park.

“The defendant went to the EFCC car park holding the hands of the person with immunity and there are pictures to show who he came within the full complement of the paraphernalia and security joined to his office. If there was an attempt to extricate him from the person with immunity (the governor)there would have been an anarchy. By their own admission, the invitation by the EFCC is for Yahaya Bello to come alone since the court order only specifies him, not security details or person with immunity”.

The Punch