EFCC vs Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court Asked to Vacate Arrest Warrant, Trial Court to Adjourn Case Indefinitely
Abuja, Nigeria — The arraignment of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over alleged N80 billion money laundering charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), may be stalled again. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has been asked to adjourn proceedings indefinitely, pending the determination of an appeal filed by the former governor, which is currently before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
In Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/535/2024, Yahaya Bello, through his counsel, Musa Yakubu (SAN) & Co, is seeking to set aside the warrant of arrest issued against him on April 17, 2024. The appeal alleges a miscarriage of justice by the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, and requests that the case file be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the appeal was filed against decisions made in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024. The former governor is also seeking an order from the Appeal Court to set aside the service of the EFCC charge on him by substituted means and nullify the proceedings already conducted in the case.
In a letter to Justice Emeka Nwite dated July 12, 2024, Musa Yakubu (SAN), counsel to Bello, requested that further proceedings be adjourned sine die, pending the outcome of the appeal. The letter was copied 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. In this letter, the EFCC requested a variation of the earlier warrant of arrest issued against Bello, additionally asking that various security agencies be specifically directed to carry out the arrest.
The outcome of this legal battle could significantly impact the progress of the case against the former governor, as both sides await the Court of Appeal’s decision.