The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the alleged money laundering case against Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, to October 30, 2024, heads to EFCC/Alleged Money Laundering: Court Adjourns Matter as Yahaya Bello Heads to Supreme Court.
The case was brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the adjournment after Bello appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.
During the hearing, the defense counsel, A.M. Adoyi, informed the court that the defendant’s arraignment was the subject of an appeal already submitted to the Supreme Court.
He referenced an affidavit of record filed on September 23, drawing the court’s attention to the ongoing 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,” the Defendant’s lawyer said.
EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, accused the defendant’s legal team of treating the court as a venue 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 steps until he submits himself. But they took another step.”
“In the interest of justice, we should await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue,” he urged the court.
Justice Emeka Nwite stated that, based on the counsel’s submission, he would need to make a decision on the issues raised. Consequently, he announced that the matter would be adjourned for a ruling. Justice Nwite then adjourned the case to October 30th for ruling and arraignment.
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