By Wahab Abdulah
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, adjourned the arraignment of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State until October 30.
The adjournment by Justice Emeka Nwite came as Bello moved to the Supreme Court to file an appeal seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17 against him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 19-count money laundering charge against Bello.
Upon resumed hearing on Wednesday, Bello’s Counsel, A.M. Adoyi, drew the attention of the court to the fact that the issue of arraignment of the defendant was the subject matter of an appeal already entered by him at the Supreme Court.
He said he would like to draw the court’s attention to the appeal by virtue of the affidavit of record filed on Sept. 23.
“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,” he said.
But EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the defendant’s lawyers were turning the court into a place for entertainment.
“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 court ruled that the appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself. But they took another step,” he said.
The former governor had, on September 18, submitted himself to the EFCC accompanied by Governor Usman Ododo, his successor, but the EFCC reportedly refused to interrogate or detain him.
It was later reported that EFCC operatives allegedly laid siege on the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja to arrest Bello at night.
Arguing against the defendant’s applications seeking an order vacating the arrest warrant, Pinheiro said, “They have three applications on this – two before your lordship and one before the Supreme Court.
“I will now urge your lordship to demonstrate audacity of coercive power on him (Adoyi) for filing same application.”
Adoyi, however, argued that the life issue of the matter slated for today (Wednesday), which was the arraignment, “is subject to an appeal by the defendant at the Supreme Court.”
“In the interest of justice, we should await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue,” he urged the court.
Justice Emeka Nwite said, with the submissions made by the counsel, he would have to decide the issues raised in one way or the other.
He said he would have to adjourn to rule on the matter.
Justice Nwite therefore adjourned the matter until October 30 for ruling and arraignment.
