The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to October 30, 2024. This adjournment follows Bello’s appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn an arrest warrant issued against him on April 17 by the trial court.
During the hearing on Wednesday, Bello’s defense counsel, A.M. Adoyi, informed the court that the matter of his client’s arraignment was now under appeal at the Supreme Court. The appeal stems from an August 28 ruling by the Court of Appeal, which directed Bello to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite for arraignment.
Adoyi stressed that until the Supreme Court rules on the appeal, any further steps in the arraignment would undermine the apex court’s authority. However, the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kemi Pinheiro, criticized Bello’s legal team, accusing them of turning the court into a “vaudeville” and engaging in deliberate tactics to delay the case. Pinheiro urged the court to hold Adoyi in contempt and refer him to the legal practitioners’ disciplinary committee.
Justice Nwite, after hearing the submissions from both sides, decided to adjourn the case to October 30 for a ruling on the issues raised and for Bello’s arraignment. Bello faces 19 counts of money laundering and misappropriation of N80.2 billion.
The case has seen several delays, with Bello previously presenting himself at the EFCC headquarters, accompanied by Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. The EFCC reportedly refused to interrogate or detain Bello due to the governor’s presence. The anti-graft agency has insisted that Bello must appear alone for his arraignment.
