The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday deferred the arraignment of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering involving N84 billion.
According to The PUNCH, the case was stalled due to the absence of Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), who was reportedly unaware of the hearing date.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which brought the charges against Bello, had urged the court to proceed with the arraignment despite the absence of his lawyer.
EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro argued, “The presence of the defendant is what the law requires, not necessarily that of his lawyers.”
However, Justice Emeka Nwite declined the request, emphasizing the importance of fair representation for the accused. “It would be unfair to proceed without the defendant’s counsel, especially when the defence team was not informed of today’s hearing,” he said.
Bello informed the court that he had only learned of the arraignment late on Thursday and was unable to reach his legal team in time.
After waiting for 45 minutes without any sign of the defence counsel, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to December 13, directing that notices be served on Bello’s lawyers to ensure their presence at the next sitting.
Justice Nwite reiterated the importance of fair hearing in legal proceedings, stating, “While the law permits arraignment in the absence of counsel if none has been engaged, this is a unique situation where the defendant does have legal representation. Proceeding without his counsel would undermine his right to a fair trial.”
In addition to the Federal High Court case, Bello is also facing a 16-count charge of alleged fraud involving N110.4 billion before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
At the previous hearing on October 30, Pinheiro had asked the court to enter a plea of not guilty on Bello’s behalf and begin the trial, citing the readiness of two witnesses. Justice Nwite, however, had deferred the case to January 21, 2025, before the surprise rescheduling that led to Friday’s hearing.
Following the adjournment, the EFCC counsel requested that Bello remain in custody until the next sitting. Justice Nwite granted the application and ordered the defendant’s continued detention by the EFCC.
The next hearing is set to address pending motions and potentially proceed with Bello’s arraignment.
