Alleged N80bn Fraud: Judge Renews Order For Yahaya Bello's Arrest

The Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday, May 10, 2024, maintained that the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, must appear before the court and answer to the fraud allegations made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to the tune of N80m.

It would be recalled that the court had on April 23, ordered the EFCC to serve the former governor with the money laundering charges against him through his lawyer.

In a ruling, the judge stated that the application filed by the anti-graft agency, that no application be heard without the defendant being in court, was meritorious.

In referencing Section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Justice Nwite insisted that Bello ought to make himself available first before filling any process.

Justice Nwite who equally held that since Bello has continued to disobey court orders, he would not be allowed to file any application or be heard, added that even if an arrest warrant was illegally obtained, he should have appeared in court.

The former Kogi governor had prayed to the court to stay further hearing of the alleged money laundering suit filed against him by the EFCC until the Court of Appeal decides a pending case relating to the same matter.

The former governor through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, hinted to the court that the commission had by a motion ex parte obtained an order of the Court of Appeal stopping the contempt proceedings filed by him against the agency at the High Court sitting in Lokoja.

As a result, the lawyer revealed that the appellate court had already fixed May 20 to hear the case and that it would be important the Federal High Court awaits the outcome before going further with the trial.

All rights reserved. This material and other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior express written permission of THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK. 

For advertising inquiries, please contact thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or 08033599492. For news coverage or press releases, call 08022717838.