You should report in court on Wednesday to face N80 billion fraud trial, crimes commission tells Yahaya Bello
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the embattled former Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello to appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday scheduled for his arraignment on money laundering charges.
Penpushing reports that the order was contained in a letter written to Bello through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Muhammed, on Tuesday, calling on the defence to produce him in court proceedings over allegation of diversion of more than N80 billion belonging to the Kogi State Government.
The whereabout of the former Governor who is known to have been avoiding court since April, stalling on six occasions his arraignment on alleged crimes committed during his eight-year tenure as governor of the state, could not be ascertain as at the time of filing this report.
Penpushing further reports that the letter with acknowledgement stamp dated September 24,2024 of the law firm of the former governor’s council, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was sent on behalf by the commission by its private prosecutor, Kemi Pinheiro
The copy of the letter was equally sent to the registrar of the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite’s court, reminding the defence that the trial judge, on July 17,2024, rescheduled Bello’s arraignment to September 25, 2024.
Penpushing also reports that the letter in same vein reminded the defence of the two judgements of the Court of Appeal in Abuja delivered on August 17, and August 20, 2024 ordering Bello to make himself available for arraignment before taking any further steps regarding the matter.
“We trust you would ensure compliance with the order of their Law Lords of the Court of Appeal. We are not oblivious of the news which circulated the media space on the 18th day of September, 2024 wherein the Defendant was alleged to be at the car park of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the letter read.
‘We cannot however confirm the veracity of same. At any rate, the attendance of the Defendant is required at the Federal High Court where the Charge is pending and not at the EFCC office’, Pinheiro wrote’
Penpushing reports that the letter, however, reminded the defence of their series of undertakings to produce Bello in court for arraignment, but as at the time of filing this report the former was yet to confirm if he will attend Wednesday’s proceedings.
The former Governor it is recalled had in a dramatic attempt on September 18, 2024 accompanied by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, to surrender himself at Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) headquarters in Abuja
Penpushing further reports that the commission reportedly refused to arrest Bello and instead attempted to apprehend him at the Kogi State Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, where he was being sheltered by his successor.
The ugly development was said to result to sporadic exchange of shootout between the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and security details of Governor Ododo, while the former Governor reportedly escaped from the scene in convoy of the Governor.
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