By Abiola Olawale
An attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arraign the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on a 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion has been stalled.
This is as the lawyers of the former governor were absent when the matter came up at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The New Diplomat reports that the EFCC on Friday brought Bello before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja for arraignment on a 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.
At the beginning of the court proceedings, the EFCC’s legal counsel, Kemi Phinero, moved a motion for the charge to be read to the defendant and his plea taken.
Bello, addressing the court directly, informed Justice Emeka Nwite that he had received notification of his arraignment only in the late hours of November 28th.
According to him, this made it difficult for him to alert his legal representatives of the ongoing proceedings.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, declared that it would serve the interests of justice for the ex-governor’s legal counsel to be present during the court session.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case to 13th December for a hearing on the abridgement of time and possible arraignment
He further ordered that Bello be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.The New Diplomat reports that the latest arraignment is coming two days after Bello was arraigned before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on a 16-count charge.
It would be recalled that the 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion, was the first lawsuit the EFCC slammed against Bello.
In a fresh charge filed on September 24 2024, the EFCC accused the former governor of N110 billion in fraud.
