Alleged Money Laundering: Yahaya Bello Drags EFCC to Supreme Court
Former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) declaration of him as wanted.
Bello is facing a 19-count charge for allegedly laundering N80.2 billion.
During the hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Defence Counsel led by A.M. Adoyi, highlighted that the arraignment of Bello was already under appeal at the Supreme Court. He referred to an affidavit of record filed on September 23 and stated, “The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means 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 from under the feet of the Supreme Court.”
In contrast, EFCC Counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, criticised the Defence for using the court as a platform for entertainment. Pinheiro pointed out that an appeal by the defendant regarding the mode of service of the charge had been dismissed by the Court of Appeal on August 28, ruling that the service was valid. He argued that the defendant should not take any further steps until he submitted himself to the court.
It was noted that the former governor had submitted himself to the EFCC the previous Wednesday, accompanied by current Kogi State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
However, the EFCC reportedly declined to interrogate or detain him at that time. Reports also emerged that EFCC operatives had allegedly laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja in an attempt to arrest Bello.
Pinheiro further urged the court to exercise 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.”
In response, Adoyi maintained that the key issue for the day’s proceedings, the arraignment, was subject to the pending Supreme Court appeal. He requested that the court await the Supreme Court’s decision in the interest of justice.
Justice Emeka Nwite acknowledged the submissions made by both counsels and adjourned the matter till October 30 for ruling.
