Court Postpones Yahaya Bello’s Arraignment to September 25

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the proceedings in the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to September 25.

On Wednesday, the judge stated that proceedings would continue despite the defendant’s appeal.

The former governor’s lawyer informed the court that an application for a stay of proceedings had been filed, pending the resolution of the appeal concerning an arrest warrant and other rulings previously issued by the lower court.

During the resumed hearing, the defendant’s counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), argued that the court should not proceed until the appeal was resolved, citing legal precedents.

However, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro opposed this, asserting that the defendant had not presented any Court of Appeal document requesting a stay of proceedings.

Justice Nwite questioned whether continuing the case despite the pending appeal would be judicially appropriate. Pinheiro responded that it was not a matter of jurisdiction and that filing an affidavit alone did not justify halting the proceedings.

The prosecution counsel urged the court to focus on the ruling based on arguments presented on June 27.

The defendant’s counsel contended that the judge had been misled on June 27 and requested that the proceedings from that day be expunged.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite emphasized that granting a stay of proceedings was at the court’s discretion and should be exercised judicially. He noted that the defendant seemed to be using the appeal to delay the proceedings and cited previous Court of Appeal judgments on similar matters.

Justice Nwite also approved the withdrawal of defendant’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), from the case and referred the matter of misconduct to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for investigation.

The judge questioned whether there was a breached undertaking by Wahab (SAN) and Adedipe (SAN) amounting to contempt of court.

The case was consequently adjourned to September 25 for arraignment.