The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed its decision on the EFCC application for a substituted service of Bello’s charge until April 23. Following the oral applications presentation of arguments by Kemi Pinheiro SAN counsel for the EFCC and Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN attorney for the former governor Justice Emeka Nwite set the date.
The former governor wasn’t present in court when Bello’s arraignment on the 19-count money laundering charge that was brought against him was scheduled. Nonetheless, Adeola Adedipe SAN and other members of his legal team were present in court.
Bellos representative Mohammed contested the charges arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case and to have issued an arrest warrant for his client. He told the court that something to that effect had already been raised in a preliminary objection.
The attorney pleading with the court to set aside the arrest warrant order stated that on February 9 2024 the Kogi High Court had ordered the anti-graft agency not to arrest detain or charge Bello. He said that the EFCC was a party to the decision which concerned a fundamental rights suit that the former governor had filed. NEW: Yahaya Bello the former governor is placed on watch by NIS. He continued by saying that parties to the immediate charge included two of the senior advocates for the anti-graft agency.
Mohammed stated that a hearing had already been scheduled for the order that the EFCC had challenged in the Court of Appeal. He emphasized that the commission’s attempt to put the court in conflict with the Appeal Court was symbolized by the arrest warrant that it secretly obtained from the court.
Bello’s attorney contended that the charge shouldn’t have been brought in light of the appeal stating that the jurisdictional question was a threshold that the court needed to address first. Mohammed informed the court that since he was Bello’s representative the court should order that he be served with the charge in public despite Pinheiro’s submission.
On behalf of his client, the senior attorney however claimed he was not authorized to accept the charge. He maintained that the commission ought to file a formal application so that Bello could respond appropriately if they were unable to serve Bello with the charge in person. Furthermore, he emphasized that their objection to the arrest warrant and the entire charge on the grounds of jurisdictional inconsistency had not been addressed. Still, Mohammed’s submission was rejected by the EFCC attorney.
Pinheiro announced that Bello’s arraignment was scheduled and that Mohammed who had made the announcement regarding the former governor’s appearance could be served in public for the case to move forward. For a decision on substituted service, the court postponed until April 23. Notwithstanding a Kogi High Court ruling that prohibits the EFCC from apprehending holding or prosecuting Bello Justice Nwite ruled on Wednesday that the agency should be given a warrant for his arrest. As all of this is going on the EFCC has declared Yahaya Bello the former governor of Kogi State wanted for offenses involving financial and economic crimes.
The commission’s official Facebook page published a notice on Thursday that included this information. An excerpt from the notification stated The EFCC is seeking former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for offenses related to financial and economic crimes totaling N80 point 2 billion.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should contact the nearest police station or the commission right away. . Bello escaped arrest at his home on Wednesday even though he was scheduled to be charged before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday. The 19-count charges against Bello Ali Bello Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu pertain to money laundering of N80 246470 and 088. 88 will be brought before Justice Emeka Nwite according to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale.
Following the court’s Wednesday, April 17 2024 enrolment order and warrant of arrest granted to the EFCC Bello was arraigned. Count one of the charges states: That at some point in February 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court you Yahaya Adoza Bello Ali Bello Dauda Suliman and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large) conspired among yourselves to convert the total sum of N80 246470 088. 88 which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust. You thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 18(a) and are penalized under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended. According to count 17 of the charges Yahaya Bello helped E-Traders International Limited conceal N3081804654. 00 in account number 1451458080 which is domiciled in Access Bank.
You reasonably should have known that this amount is part of the proceeds of unlawful activity specifically criminal breach of trust. As a result, you committed an offense against Section 18(a) 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and you are also punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.
The charges in Count 18 state: That you Yahaya Adoza Bello sometime in November 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court indirectly procured E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570330. 00 to account number 4266644272 domiciled in TD Bank United States of America which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust – and you thereby committed an offense in violation of Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and you are punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.
The EFCC spokesperson added that on Wednesday, April 17 2024 the commission encountered strong opposition in its attempt to carry out the legally obtained arrest warrant against Bello. Usman Ododo the current governor of Kogi State broke through the security perimeter surrounding the former governor’s residence in Abuja and made sure the suspect was driven away in his official car.
In response to the provocation, the EFCC acted responsibly as a law enforcement organization and waited for his arraignment on Thursday, April 18, 2024. The EFCC stated It is necessary to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible.
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