Maryann Anenih, judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, left the courtroom abruptly after a horde of Yahaya Bello’s supporters besieged the facility.
The former governor of Kogi was arraigned on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering on Wednesday.
Before proceedings began, a crowd had stormed the court — most of them Bello’s supporters.
Security operatives had a hard time controlling the crowd. Many journalists were locked out of the courtroom as tempers flared.
Anenih, who walked in to take the plea of the former governor and his co-defendants, rose abruptly and made for the exit. She announced that she was not going to return until sanity was restored.
Shortly after the judge left, Yahaya Bello, who had been sitting in the front of the courtroom, jumped up and moved toward the surging crowd.
He immediately directed his followers and sympathisers to vacate their seats and leave the courtroom.
His actions helped douse the tension, as his followers left the courtroom one after another without resistance.
To ensure order, the former governor sat at the entrance of the courtroom and made sure none of his followers disobeyed the court’s order.
All his aides and followers patiently obeyed his instructions and exited the court one by one.
Meanwhile, the ex-governor has pleaded not guilty to the 19Bello, who is the 1st defendant, vehemently denied the allegations before Justice Maryann Anenih as they were reeled out by the Court Registrar.
After taking their plea, the Defendant’s Counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, moved an application for bail. But the EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed the application, saying it had expired in October.-count charges brought against them by the EFCC.
Making clarifications, the Defendant’s Counsel clarified this, saying that the only relevant application before the Court was the motion for bail in respect of the first defendant, which was filed on November 22.
Relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail application was also supported with a written address.
“Exhibit A, which is the public summons is very vital and the appearance of the defendant in Court today, shows he has respect for the law,” he said.
The EFCC had moved for trial to commence immediately and was ready to call its first witness.
But Bello’s Counsel argued that they were served with the charge at 11 pm on November 26 and that he would need time to prepare his client.
On the bail application, Daudu SAN said the law in the country says a defendant is innocent until proven guilty.
“It is within his rights to enjoy his liberty while preparing for trial,” he said.
“The prosecution’s objection is based on the fact that he is facing charges at the Federal High Court and has refused to appear to take his plea.
“The court should not use issues from another court to determine issues before the FCT High
Court,” he noted.
Pointing out some paragraphs in the counter affidavit, he said the prosecution raised issues that had to do with a matter at the Federal High Court.
“When the jurisdiction of the Court is challenged, the defendant need not to appear until the issues arising from the jurisdiction are resolved,” he noted.
Objecting to the submissions of Bello, counsel to EFCC held that his preliminary objection was anchored on three grounds – competence of the application; factual content of the application; and application of judicial principles and guidance.
Recall that Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu had earlier been admitted to administrative bail by the EFCC while the former governor appeared before the court for the first time.