Yahaya Bello takes money laundering case to Supreme Court

The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), until October 30, 2024, for a ruling.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the adjournment as Bello seeks to appeal a trial court’s arrest warrant issued on April 17. During the hearing, Bello’s defense attorney, A.M. Adoyi, informed the court that the case, currently under appeal, has been escalated to the Supreme Court. He noted that the Court of Appeal’s ruling on August 28, which required Bello to appear before Justice Nwite for arraignment, is being challenged.

Adoyi highlighted a September 23 affidavit related to the appeal, stating, “The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court…before taking any step for arraignment so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null.”

In contrast, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro criticized the defense for abusing the court process, suggesting that the courtroom was being turned into a “place for entertainment.” He urged the trial judge to consider sanctioning Adoyi for contempt, arguing, “The first thing I want to say is that this court is not vaudeville… No party must turn a court into a vaudeville, that court must resist it.”

Pinheiro emphasized the repeated adjournments for Bello’s arraignment and accused him of disrespecting the court. He stated, “Rather than respect the sanctity of this court, the defendant and his solicitors have deployed all manner of deception to achieve a purpose.”

He continued by contesting the defendant’s applications, reminding the court that a previous appeal regarding the mode of service was dismissed, requiring Bello to present himself for arraignment. “Mr. Adoyi has now filed an application… in total disregard against the lordship’s orders,” Pinheiro asserted, urging the judge to hold Adoyi in contempt.

In response, Adoyi maintained that the arraignment was subject to the ongoing Supreme Court appeal and requested the court to wait for its decision for the sake of justice.

Justice Nwite acknowledged the complexity of the issues raised and stated he would rule on them later. He subsequently adjourned the matter to October 30 for ruling and arraignment.

Bello faces 19 counts of money laundering and misappropriation of funds totaling N80.2 billion. He had recently submitted himself to the EFCC, accompanied by Kogi State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, but reportedly was neither interrogated nor detained. Reports indicated that EFCC operatives later attempted to arrest him at the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja.

Pinheiro underscored that the EFCC’s invitation was solely for Bello, insisting, “The defendant went to the EFCC car park holding the hands of the person with immunity… If there was an attempt to extricate him from the person with immunity… there would have been an anarchy.”