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Alleged Money Laundering: Court Adjourns Case as Yahaya Bello Heads to Supreme Court

Esther

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the alleged money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to October 30, 2024.


This decision follows Bello's move to appeal an arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17, 2024, at the Supreme Court.


During the hearing, Defense Counsel A.M. Adoyi emphasized the significance of the pending Supreme Court appeal, stating, "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."


However, EFCC's counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the Defendant's motions, arguing that the defense was turning the court into a place for entertainment.


Pinheiro pointed out that an earlier appeal disputing the mode of service of the charge and proof of evidence had already been dismissed by the Court of Appeal on August 28, 2024. He urged the court to demonstrate its coercive power, stating, "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."


The case revolves around allegations of money laundering brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Bello.


Despite voluntarily appearing before the EFCC last Wednesday, Bello was neither interrogated nor detained. Reports later emerged that EFCC operatives allegedly laid siege on the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja to arrest the former governor at night. Justice Emeka Nwite, acknowledging the submissions from both counsels, decided to adjourn the matter to October 30, 2024, for ruling and arraignment.





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