Court Sets Date For Ruling On EFCC’s Bid To Prosecute Ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello

• Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed April 23, 2024 to rule on EFCC’s application to serve charges and arraign former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello on 19-count money laundering charge involving N81bn

• Bello’s scheduled arraignment on Thursday stalled due to his absence from court

• EFCC claimed Bello was shielded by “a person of immunity” to abort arrest attempt, alleging he’s being kept at successor’s home

• Bello’s lawyer said client obtained order from Kogi State High Court restraining EFCC from arresting and prosecuting him

Eko Hot Blog reports that the long-awaited arraignment of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on an N81 billion money laundering charge hit another roadblock on Thursday as his absence from court stalled proceedings.

However, Justice Emeka Nwite has now fixed April 23, 2024 to rule on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to serve the 19-count charge and proof of evidence on Bello’s lawyers, paving the way for his possible arraignment.

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During Thursday’s session, the EFCC’s lead counsel, Dr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), alleged that Bello was being shielded by “a person of immunity” to prevent his arrest. “What happened yesterday was that a person with immunity came to whisk him away to abort the arrest,” Pinheiro stated.

The senior lawyer further claimed, “We know that he is being kept in his successor’s house. Immunity is not attached to a home but to a person.” Pinheiro warned of potential escalation, stating, “We can invite the military to invade the building where he is being kept to execute the order of this court.”

However, Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, countered that his client had obtained an interim order from the Kogi State High Court restraining the EFCC from arresting and prosecuting the former governor. Mohammed also declined to accept copies of the charges on Bello’s behalf.

The EFCC had previously made “futile efforts” to arrest Bello at his Abuja residence on Wednesday, following a warrant issued by Justice Nwite based on the anti-graft agency’s ex parte application.

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As the legal tussle continues, the court’s ruling on April 23 will determine the EFCC’s ability to formally charge and potentially arraign the former governor on the N81 billion money laundering allegations.

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