The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the arraignment of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to June 27, 2024. Justice Emeka Nwite made the decision to reschedule the hearing and plea proceedings related to a money laundering case initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During Thursday’s session, Bello’s legal representative, Adeola Adedipe, revealed that both parties had agreed to reschedule the hearing date. Adedipe mentioned that EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinehero, had communicated with Bello’s legal team, indicating that the original date of June 13 was inconvenient for the prosecution. Consequently, June 27 was chosen as the new date for the arraignment.
Contrary to the agreement, EFCC lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) appeared in court, unaware of the supposed arrangement for adjournment. Adedipe expressed surprise at Oyedepo’s presence and highlighted a miscommunication between EFCC’s legal representatives. He reiterated that the decision to seek a new date was made administratively, and junior lawyers were supposed to formalize this in court.
Adedipe criticized the EFCC’s actions, claiming they intended to ambush Bello by bringing the case to public attention unnecessarily. He emphasized that Bello would have been present in court if the EFCC had not sought an adjournment.
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Adedipe referred to Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), arguing that defendants are not always required to appear in court, particularly in procedural matters like this. He stressed that the defense had not sought the adjournment but merely accommodated the prosecution’s request.
Oyedepo refuted Adedipe’s claims, insisting that the court deserved respect and transparency. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the court’s integrity and highlighted that the defense had previously committed to presenting Bello. Oyedepo questioned the propriety of Bello’s absence, asserting that the defendant should have been present as agreed.
Senior lawyer Simon Lough intervened, suggesting that the matter did not warrant prolonged argument and a new date should be set amicably. He recommended that the court could later verify the claims about the meeting from the EFCC’s lead counsel.
Adedipe apologized for Bello’s absence and requested the court to adjourn to the agreed date. Justice Nwite, considering the submissions, rescheduled the case to June 27, 2024. The court adjourned the matter based on the counsel’s agreement, with an assurance that Bello would appear on the next adjourned date.
This decision marks another chapter in the ongoing legal proceedings against Yahaya Bello, underscoring the complexities and procedural intricacies involved in high-profile financial crime cases.
