Judge Demands Yahaya Bello's Court Appearance Over N80bn Fraud

Court mandates Yahaya Bello's appearance

Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, has been accused of fraud totaling 80 billion naira by the EFCC. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has demanded that Bello appear in court and respond to the charges.

The court ruled on April 23 that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should proceed to serve the former governor with the money laundering charges via his attorney.

According to Justice Nwite's finding, the antigraft agency's appeal to have all applications considered in person with the defendant present was a worthy one.

Section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 was used by the trial judge in support of his ruling that Bello should be made available prior to filling any processes.

The trial judge ruled that Bello would not be permitted to make an application or have his case heard since he had persisted in disobeying court instructions.

The judge went on to say that he ought to have arrived in court even if an arrest order was obtained unlawfully.

Bello is also pleading with the court to postpone further consideration of the EFCC's purported money laundering lawsuit against him until the Court of Appeal renders a decision in a related matter that is still ongoing.

The former governor, through his attorney Abdulwahab Mohammed, told the court that the EFCC had obtained an order from the Appeal Court, by motion ex parte, halting the contempt proceedings he had brought against the agency at the High Court located in Lokoja.

Thus, the lawyer stated that since the appellate court has set May 20 for the case's hearing, it will be crucial that the Federal High Court waits for the verdict before continuing with the trial.