Alleged N80bn fraud: No reprieve for Yahaya Bello as court orders him to show up for trial

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, must come out of his hiding and show up in court to answer the N80 billion fraud charge slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Emeka Nwite declared in a ruling that the anti-graft agency’s application, which demanded that the defendant appear in court before any application could be considered, was meritorious.

Persecondnews recalls that on April 23, the court ordered the EFCC to serve the former governor with the money laundering charges through his lawyer.

Citing Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the judge held that Bello ought to make himself available first before filling out any process.

He stated that Bello will not be able to file any applications or have his case heard because he has continued to disobey court orders.

The judge added that even if an arrest warrant was illegally obtained, he should have appeared in court.

Bello is also requesting a halt to the EFCC’s alleged money laundering suit until the Court of Appeal resolves a related pending case.

His counsel, Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed, informed the court that the EFCC had, by motion ex parte, got an order of the Appeal Court stopping the contempt proceedings filed by him against the agency at the High Court sitting in Lokoja.

The counsel, therefore, said that as the appellate court has already fixed May 20 to hear the case, it will be important that the Federal High Court await the outcome before going further with the trial.