Alleged N80.2b Fraud: I’m Ready To Appear In Court, But .. – Yahaya Bello
FORMER governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has expressed readiness to appear in court and prove his innocence regarding the alleged Eighty Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira (N80.200,000,000.00) corruption allegation levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but that he was afraid of being arrested.
Speaking through Mr Adeola Adedipe (SAN), a member of his legal team, the embattled former governor informed the court that although he would have been willing to attend the hearings, he was worried about getting arrested.
“The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head,” Adedipe (SAN) stated.
Consequently, he urged the court to set aside the ex parte order of arrest it earlier issued against the former governor.
Adedipe (SAN) contended that at the time the order of arrest was made the charge had not been served on his client as required by law.
“The court is expected to do justice at all times. A warrant of arrest cannot be hanging on Bello’s neck when we are in this court. It appears to us that the defendant will not get justice because the court granted a warrant of arrest before service,” he said.
He noted that it was only at the resumed proceedings on Tuesday (today) that the court okayed substituted service of the charge on the defendant through his lawyer.
“As at the time the warrant was issued, the order for substituted service had not been made. That order was just made this morning.
“A warrant of arrest should not be hanging on his neck when we leave this court,” counsel to the defendant added.
However, prosecution counsel, Kemi Piniero (SAN) in response, urged the court to decline hearing on any motion from Bello’s legal team until the defendant is physically present in court for his arraignment.
“The stage we are in now is to determine the whereabouts of the defendant. He cannot be in his house while the trial proceeds without him coming here to take his plea. My Lord, this is a criminal matter not a civil matter, he must come and take his plea. It is a matter of over N80 billion. All these applications by the defendant are to prevent his arraignment and frustrate the commencement of trial,” he said.
The EFCC had earlier declared Mr Bello wanted for an alleged financial crime to the tune of N80.2 billion.
However, the anti-graft agency called on those with vital information about the former Kogi governor’s whereabouts to reach the Commission or the police.
After hearing both counsel, Justice Nwite adjourned ruling on the defence’s application, seeking a revocation of the arrest warrant on Bello till 10 May 2024.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that the former Kogi State governor served his charges through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad (SAN) after Justice Nwite ruled that the defendant should be served through his counsel, especially as he failed to appear before the court, yet again.
The EFCC is prosecuting Mr Bello alongside Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-Nine Naira, Eighty-Eighty Kobo (N80, 246, 470,089.88k).
Eighteen-Eleven Media
