September 25, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court, Abuja, has further adjourned until October 30, 2024, hearing the arraignment of former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, on the alleged money laundering case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered adjournment following an appeal filed at the Supreme Court by the former governor, seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.
The EFCC had filed a 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion against Yahaya Bello.
The former Governor had delayed his arraignment with several litigations until August 28, when the court of appeal ordered him to submit himself to the anti-graft agency for arraignment.
Bello had claimed last week that he honoured an invitation by the EFCC, a claim that was denied by the commission.
Addressing the court on Thursday, Bello’s counsel, A.M. Adoyi, drew the court’s attention to the fact that the issue of arraignment of his client was the subject matter of an appeal already entered by him at the Supreme Court. He prayed the court to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue in the interest of justice.
Objecting to the move, EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, pointed out that the court of appeal had on August 28, held that “The appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself”, to the EFCC for arraignment.
However, holding that “The appropriate thing to do was to wait for 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”, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to 30th of October for ruling and arraignment.
