EFCC Delays Yahaya Bello’s Arraignment Date to June 27
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday unexpectedly abandoned its request to change the arraignment date for former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello from June 13 to June 27 without informing the defense lawyers.
The EFCC had reportedly requested the new date for the hearing of the alleged money laundering case against Bello. During the resumed hearing on Thursday, Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that the EFCC lawyers had previously approached Aliyu AbdulWahab, SAN, the defendant’s counsel, to reschedule the June 13 date for convenience.
Adedipe expressed surprise when he learned that EFCC lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo was present in court, despite the previous arrangement.
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“They (EFCC) agreed that junior counsel would be sent to court today to formally pick a date. And the registry can confirm this,” Adedipe said.
“Kemi Pinhero, SAN, has been calling us to say today is not convenient,” he added. Kemi Pinhero is the lead counsel.
But for the decision of the EFCC to seek an adjournment to a future date for his arraignment, Bello was said to be ready to appear in court on Thursday.
“Under 266 ACJA there are instances when defendants don’t need to come and this is one of them.
“We came here to pick a date. Of what use will the defendant coming here be? It is the prosecuting counsel that approached us, we did not approach them. We have nothing to hide,” Adedipe noted.
Meanwhile, the court has fixed June 27 as new date for the arraignment.
