November 29, (THEWILL) – The arraignment of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on an alleged N80.2 billion fraud charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was stalled on Friday due to the absence of his legal representatives in court.
The EFCC had filed a 19-count charge against Bello, accusing him of conspiracy, money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds. Also charged alongside him are his nephew, Ali Bello, and two others, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had earlier issued an arrest warrant for Bello on April 17, following his repeated failure to appear for arraignment. Bello was subsequently declared wanted by the anti-graft agency in April 2024.
After exhausting legal avenues to evade arrest, Bello surrendered to the EFCC on Tuesday.
He was detained and scheduled to face trial on separate charges of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property amounting to N110.4 billion before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT High Court.
Justice Anenih ordered Bello and his co-defendants to be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of their bail application on December 10.
However, when Bello was brought before Justice Nwite on Friday for arraignment on the N80.2 billion charge, his legal team was absent.
EFCC counsel, Kemi Phinero, sought to proceed with the arraignment, but Bello informed the court that he was only notified of the proceedings late on November 28 and was unable to contact his lawyers.
The former governor argued that the case had originally been adjourned to January 21, 2025, and his counsel was likely unaware of the court’s decision to bring the date forward.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite held that the absence of Bello’s legal representation necessitated a deferment to ensure justice.
“It would have been different if the defendant had no lawyer representing him. It is, therefore, my view that the interest of justice will be met by putting the defence counsel on notice about this abridgment of time,” the judge said.
Justice Nwite ordered that Bello’s lawyers be served with a hearing notice and adjourned the case to December 13 for further proceedings. He also directed that Bello remain in EFCC custody until the next court date.
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