Yahaya Bello takes money laundering case to Supreme Court

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to October 30, 2024, for judgment.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the stay while Bello seeks to appeal the court’s arrest warrant issued on April 17.

During the hearing, Bello’s defence lawyer, AM Adoyi, informed the court that the case, which is currently under appeal, has been escalated to the Supreme Court. He noted that the Court of Appeal’s August 28 ruling requiring Bello to appear before Justice Nwite for arraignment is being challenged.

Adoyi highlighted a written statement dated September 23 relating to the appeal, which stated, “The appeal numbers are SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means the most appropriate thing to do is to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court…before taking any steps to file charges so as not to invalidate the appeal of the appellant.”

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In contrast, EFCC legal counsel Kemi Pinheiro criticized the defense for abusing the court process, stating that the courtroom was being turned into a “place of entertainment.”

He urged the trial judge to consider sanctioning Adoyi for contempt of court, arguing, “The first thing I want to say is that this court is not a charade… No one should turn the court into a charade, the court should stand up to it.”

Pinheiro stressed the repeated delays in Bello’s arraignment and accused him of disrespecting the court. He stated, “Rather than respecting the sanctity of this court, the defendant and his lawyers have used all sorts of tricks to achieve an objective.”

He went on to oppose the defendant’s application, reminding the court that a previous appeal regarding the method of delivery had been dismissed, requiring Bello to appear in person for arraignment. “Mr. Adoyi has now filed an application… in complete disregard of the court’s order,” Pinheiro said, urging the judge to declare Adoyi in contempt of court.

Responding, Adoyi stressed that the charges were the subject of an ongoing Supreme Court appeal and asked the court to await its decision in the interest of justice.

Judge Nwite acknowledged the complexity of the issues raised and said he would rule on them later. He then adjourned the matter to October 30 for sentencing and sentencing.

Bello faces 19 counts of money laundering and misappropriation of funds totaling N80.2 billion. He recently allegedly surrendered to the EFCC, accompanied by the Kogi State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, but was reportedly not interrogated or detained. Reports indicate that EFCC officers later attempted to arrest him at the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja.

Pinheiro asserted that the EFCC invitation was only for Bello, and asserted, “The accused went to the EFCC parking lot holding the hand of the person with immunity… If there is an attempt to remove him from the person with immunity… there will definitely be anarchy.”

Yahaya Bello takes money laundering case to Supreme Court first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.