A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has slated
the arraignment of the former Kogi State governor, Yahaya
Adoza Bello for December 13, 2024.
Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday, November
29, 2024 directed the court’s Registrar to issue a hearing notice
to Bello’s legal team regarding his arraignment.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC , is prosecuting Bello on 19-count charge of money
laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.
Addressing the court about the former governor’s
presence in court, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged
the court to proceed with the arraignment, stating that the
defendant’s presence satisfied the legal requirement for the process.
“In view of his physical presence in court and relying
on Sections 271-277 and Section 392 of the Administration of Criminal Justice
Act (ACJA), I respectfully apply that the charge be read to the defendant, his
plea be taken, and my lordship adjourn for further proceedings,” he said. He
referenced two Court of Appeal rulings, dated August 20, 2024, which
upheld a defendant’s presence in court as
satisfactory enough for his arraignment and further buttressed his
position with the fact that Bello had failed to appear in court on
several occasions, prompting an application for his trial in absentia.
Bello in his response, informed the court
that he had not mobilized his legal team on the arraignment and pleaded for
time to do so.
Justice Nwite, in a short ruling,
adjourned to December 13, 2024 to enable the prosecution to serve
the defendant’s counsel with the necessary processes.
In addition, the court directed the registrar to
issue a hearing notice to Bello’s legal team and ordered that
the former governor be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.
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