Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Seeks Indefinite Adjournment and Vacation of Arrest Order Amid EFCC Money Laundering Case
Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has sought an indefinite adjournment of the case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This request was made through his counsel, Musa Yakubu, in a letter dated July 12 and addressed to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
Mr. Bello, who is facing charges of laundering N80 billion, has also asked the court to vacate the arrest order issued against him, pending the outcome of an appeal he has filed with the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal. The appeal, identified as CA/ABJ/CR/535/2024, challenges the legality of the arrest warrant issued on April 17, 2024, and seeks reassignment of the case to another judge.
In his appeal, Mr. Bello argues that the arrest warrant was improperly issued and that the case proceedings thus far should be invalidated. He has also requested that the Federal High Court’s chief judge reassign the case file to a different judge.
Mr. Bello’s letter to Justice Nwite comes ahead of his scheduled arraignment on July 17. In the letter, he argues that further proceedings should be adjourned sine die, or indefinitely, until the Court of Appeal resolves his appeal.
The EFCC, in a letter dated July 8 and filed on July 10, 2024, had requested a variation of the arrest warrant and urged that security agencies be directed to enforce the arrest. In response, Mr. Bello’s counsel urged the court to decline this request, emphasizing the need to await the appellate court’s decision.
Citing legal precedents, including the Supreme Court’s decision in Vab Petroleum INC V. Momah and other cases, Mr. Bello’s counsel stressed the importance of staying proceedings in light of the ongoing appeal. The letter also referenced a similar situation in which Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos High Court stayed proceedings pending an appeal in the case of Cletus Ibeto V. Federal Republic of Nigeria, where the appellant challenged the jurisdiction of the lower court.
The outcome of Mr. Bello’s appeal and the court’s decision on the adjournment request remain pending.
