Come out from hiding to face trial, Anti-crime commission won’t kill you, court tells runaway former Governor Yahaya Bello

The Federal High Court in Abuja, has asked the runaway former Governor Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to come out from hiding, stressing that he has a case to answer, and that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) won’t kill him

Penpushing reports that the former Governor who has been in hiding since he left office had earlier urged the judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, to stay his trial over N80.2billion fraud, citing a pending appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concerning contempt proceedings against its head, Ola Olukoyede.

The judge, however, in his ruling on Friday declared that the former Governor’s application cannot be entertained unless he appear in court, explaining that in the absence of Bello in court, the motion on notice filed by the complainant can only be conducted if the defendant is in court

“You are the one who is misleading the defendant. What is your fear? How many people have you heard that the EFCC killed? The EFCC is a law-abiding agency. Is your client the only past governor that has been invited by the EFCC? Bring him to court and I will entertain your applications,” the judge said.

‘The application cannot be entertained unless the defendant is present in the court. In the absence of the defendant in court, the motion on notice filed by the complainant can only be conducted if the defendant is in court’, the judge ruled

Penpushing further reports that the judge pointed out to the embattled Bello and his counsel that he (Bello) was trying to undermine the judicial process by choosing to stay away from court in flagrant disregard of court orders.

“You are the one who is misleading the defendant. What is your fear? How many people have you heard that the EFCC killed? The EFCC is a law-abiding agency. Is your client the only past governor that has been invited by the EFCC? Bring him to court and I will entertain your applications,” the judge emphasised.

Penpushing also reports that following the court’s refusal to halt his trial, the youthful former Governor has pledged to turn himself in for arraignment, as his lawyer Abdulwahab Mohammed, promised to produce him before the court on 13 June for arraignment.

The counsel who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said he gave the undertaking because the court rejected his client request to stay proceedings in the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Penpushing reports that the defence lawyer argued that his client had no intention to undermine the court’s authority but was concerned about his safety in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.

The defence counsel, however, requested four weeks to produce the former governor before the court, stressing that all what his client need is an assurance for his safety of life, which he said has been under threat for some time in Abuja

Penpushing further reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), did not object to Mohammed’s request on behalf of his client, and thereafter the judge adjourned the suit until 13 June for Bello’s arraignment.

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