The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday declined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) request to arraign former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello in the absence of his legal team. The court adjourned the N80 billion fraud case against Bello to December 13, 2024, for the motion for abridgment of time and possible arraignment.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled in favor of fair hearing, emphasizing that the original date for arraignment was set for January 21, 2025, and the defendant’s lawyers were not notified of the rescheduled sitting. When asked why his legal team was absent, Bello explained he was only informed of the new date late Thursday night, making it impossible to alert his counsel.
EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the defendant’s plea could be taken without his lawyers, stating that the law only requires the defendant’s presence. However, Justice Nwite ruled otherwise, highlighting that fairness dictated the presence of counsel. He instructed the EFCC to serve notice to Bello’s lawyers and scheduled the next hearing for December 13, where the motion for abridgment and potential arraignment would take place.
In a related development, the court ordered Bello to remain in EFCC custody until the December 13 hearing. This decision follows an earlier adjournment on October 30, where the court set January 2025 as the arraignment date. However, the EFCC requested a shortened timeline without notifying Bello’s legal team, prompting Friday’s ruling.
Bello remains in EFCC custody on additional charges of N110 billion fraud before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. His bail application for those charges is set for ruling on December 10, with his detention extended until then.
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