Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has mandated that the Federal Government’s charges of alleged N80 billion fraud against the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, be delivered through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed.
This directive was given during a ruling on Tuesday in response to an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for substituted service on Bello.
Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the lead counsel for the anti-graft agency, presented the argument.
Initially, Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, refused to accept the charges and evidence but was later compelled to do so by Justice Nwite.
Justice Nwite dismissed the request by the senior lawyer that a junior lawyer from his team, AI Musa, be the one to receive the charges on behalf of the former governor.
During the recent proceedings on Tuesday, Yahaya Bello was once again absent from court, with his legal representative standing in for him.
Last week, Justice Nwite had issued a bench warrant against Bello following a request by the EFCC.
Subsequently, the EFCC declared the former governor wanted for continuously failing to appear in court and avoiding the criminal charges against him.
More details to follow.