Justice Emeka Nwite has adjourned the case against former Governor Yahaya Bello, following his move to the Supreme Court to appeal the arrest warrant issued against him on April 17. Bello faces a 19-count money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At the resumed hearing, Bello’s counsel, A.M. Adoyi, informed the court that an appeal had been filed at the Supreme Court, urging the court to delay further action until the appeal was decided to avoid undermining the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction. He referenced appeal numbers SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024.
EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), argued that Bello’s legal team was using delaying tactics and noted that a previous appeal disputing the mode of service had already been dismissed by the Court of Appeal in August 2024. Despite this, the defendant had not submitted himself for arraignment as directed.
Bello had submitted himself to the EFCC on September 18 but was not interrogated. Reports later surfaced of EFCC operatives attempting to arrest him at the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case until October 30 to rule on the matter and for the arraignment.