EFCC vs Bello: Request to Vacate Arrest Warrant and Adjourn Trial
The arraignment of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, on alleged N80 billion money laundering charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), set for tomorrow (Wednesday), might face further delays. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to indefinitely adjourn the proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal filed by Bello at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
In Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/535/2024, Bello, represented by his legal team led by Musa Yakubu (SAN), claims that Justice Emeka Nwite committed a miscarriage of justice. The appeal seeks to overturn the arrest warrant issued against Bello on April 17, 2024, and requests that the case be reassigned to another judge by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the appeal challenges the decisions made by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024. Bello is also requesting that the Court of Appeal nullify the service of the EFCC charges by substituted means and annul all proceedings conducted thus far.
In a letter dated July 12, 2024, addressed to Justice Emeka Nwite, Bello’s counsel, Musa Yakubu (SAN), requested that further proceedings be adjourned sine die, pending the resolution of the appeal at the Court of Appeal. Copies of this letter were also sent to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
This request follows a letter from the EFCC to Justice Nwite, dated July 8, 2024, and filed on July 10, 2024, asking for a variation of the arrest warrant against Bello and directing security agencies to enforce the arrest.
