By Francesca Hangeior
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission until October 30, 2024, for a ruling.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the adjournment following Bello’s move to appeal to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.
During the hearing, defence counsel A.M. Adoyi informed the court that the matter of Bello’s arraignment, which is under appeal, had been taken to the Supreme Court.
He noted that the Court of Appeal ruling on August 28, which directed Bello to appear before Justice Nwite for arraignment, had been challenged at the apex court.
Adoyi also brought the court’s attention to the September 23 affidavit of record filed in connection with the appeal.
“The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null or to pull the rug out of the feet of the Supreme Court,” He said.
The EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro wasn’t having any of it. He told the court that the defendant and his counsel had turned the court into a place for entertainment.
He said the various applications are a gross abuse of court, he urged the trial judge to use his powers and sanction Adoyi for contempt of court and being irresponsible.
Pinheiro said, “The first thing I want to say is that this court is not vaudeville (a vaudeville is a place of variety entertainment). No party must turn a court into a vaudeville, that court must resist it.
“This court has adjourned four times for the defendant to appear for arraignment.
“The defendant has refused to respect the Constitution and this court. Rather than respect the sanctity of this court, the defendant and his solicitors have deployed all manner of deception to achieve a purpose.
Arguing against the defendant’s applications, Pinheiro said, “They have three applications on this – two before your lordship and one before the Supreme Court. I will now urge your lordship to demonstrate audacity of coercive power on him.
“Secondly, an appeal the defendant filed at the court of appeal disputing the mode of service of the charge and proof of evidence on their counsel was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on the 28th of August this year.
“The Court of Appeal said the mode of service was good and proper service. The appellant shall not take any further steps until he submits himself. But they took another step. The appellant was ordered to present himself for arraignment and not take any further steps on this until he honours this order.”