Alleged Money Laundering: Yahaya Bello Heads to Supreme Court
In the alleged money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Yahaya Bello, the ex-governor has moved to the Supreme Court to file an appeal seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17 against him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 19-count money laundering charge against Bello.
Citing the appeal numbers as SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024, Bello’s Counsel, A.M. Adoyi, noted that the issue of arraignment of the defendant was the subject matter of an appeal already entered by him at the Supreme Court, by virtue of the affidavit of record filed on September 23.
“That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment, so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null or to pull the rug out of the feet of the Supreme Court,” he stated.
However, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the Court of Appeal had dismissed an appeal filed by the defendant’s lawyer disputing the mode of service of the charge.
“Secondly, an appeal the defendant filed at the Court of Appeal disputing the mode of service of the charge and proof of evidence on their counsel was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on the 28th of August this year.
“The Court of Appeal said the mode of service was good and proper. The court ruled that the appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself, but they took another step,” he said.
Adoyi, however, said that the main issue of the matter slated for today was the arraignment, which is subject to an appeal by the defendant at the Supreme Court.
“In the interest of justice, we should await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue,” he urged the court.
Justice Emeka Nwite said going by the submissions of the counsel, he would have to decide the issues raised in one way or the other.
The matter was adjourned to October 30 for ruling and arraignment.
