Former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, was not present at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday to honour court summons in the N82 billion alleged fraud charges brought against him by the federal government.
Bello was expected to be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite this morning, but at the time of this report, there were no traces of his presence either in the courtroom or within the court premises.
However, his two lawyers, Mohammed Aliyu and Adeola Adedipe, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), have arrived in court in compliance with the court’s order.
The two senior lawyers are expected to answer questions on their undertaking to produce the former governor in court for arraignment.
Bello, who for the sixth time snubbed court summons, had at the last adjournment sought the transfer of his trial on the alleged crime to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
He said that he preferred to be arraigned in Lokoja, where he claimed that the court ordinarily has territorial jurisdiction and where the alleged offense was committed.
His request, routed through a letter to the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, was turned down, and he was directed to make the request in open court as required by law.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have stormed the court to witness today’s proceedings.
Also in the court is a team from the media department of the EFCC led by Mr. Dele Oyewale, the Head of the media department.