I Want To Appear In Court But I’m Afraid Of Arrest — Yahaya Bello
In a dramatic turn of events, the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has declared his readiness to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to respond to a 19-count charge levied against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Despite his absence at the scheduled arraignment, Bello’s legal team, led by Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, addressed the court, citing fears of arrest as the reason for Bello’s non-appearance.
Adedipe argued that the exparte order of arrest should be set aside, as the charges had not been properly served to Bello prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant. The defense contends that the EFCC, as it currently stands, is an illegal entity, citing a lack of consultation with the 36 States of the federation before the enactment of the EFCC Act through the National Assembly.
On the other side, the EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to maintain the arrest order until Bello presents himself for trial. Pinheiro accused Bello of employing dilatory tactics to frustrate the legal proceedings and insisted that the defendant’s physical presence is necessary for the court to assume jurisdiction over any applications or objections.
The court awaits Bello’s next move as the legal battle intensifies, with the EFCC asserting its legality as previously affirmed by the Supreme Court. The charges against Bello involve allegations of laundering public funds to acquire properties in Lagos, Maitama, and transferring funds to overseas accounts. The nation watches as this high-profile case unfolds, with implications for the legal standing of the EFCC and the accountability of public officials.
