April 23 has been fixed by an Abuja Federal High Court for a ruling on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a substituted service of the charge filed against the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Ruling on the application was postponed to April 23 by Justice Emeka Nwite after arguments were presented by counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and the ex-governor’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN.
When the case was called for Bello’s arraignment on a 19-count money laundering charge, the former governor was not present in court, but his legal team, including Adeola Adedipe, SAN, was present.
Mohammed, representing Bello, contested the charge’s validity, citing jurisdictional issues and the arrest warrant issued against his client. He mentioned a previous ruling by a Kogi State High Court that restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello, claiming the fundamental rights suit filed by the ex-governor involved the anti-graft agency.
He emphasized that the arrest warrant could lead to a conflict with the Court of Appeal, as the matter was scheduled for a hearing. Mohammed argued that addressing jurisdictional concerns was essential before proceeding with the charge due to the pending appeal.
While Mohammed stated he was not authorized to accept the charge on behalf of Bello, Pinheiro from the EFCC suggested serving the charge to him in the courtroom for the case to advance.
The court adjourned the case to May 23 for a ruling on substituted service. The arrest warrant for Bello issued by Justice Nwite despite a previous judgment from the Kogi High Court prohibiting the EFCC from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting him.