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Tag: Yahaya Bello

  • Alleged N80.2b money laundering:  Court postpones Yahaya Bello’s arraignment till June 27

    Alleged N80.2b money laundering:  Court postpones Yahaya Bello’s arraignment till June 27

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, June 13, rescheduled the arraignment of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello on June 27.

    Bello was to be arraigned on a 19-count money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in which he is, among others, accused of laundering about N80.2billion belonging to Kogi State.

    Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case on Thursday owing to the absence of the lead prosecution lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).

    At the mention of the case on Thursday, a lawyer in Bello’s legal team, Adeola Adedipe (SAN) informed the court that Pinheiro earlier informed the defence team that he would not be available for today’s sitting.

    Adedipe, who said he was in court for another case, expressed surprise that another lawyer in the EFCC’s legal team, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) was in court.

    The defence lawyer said lawyers to both sides had before Thursday that they would send junior lawyers to get a new date from the court at the instance of Pinhero.

    Adedipe noted that it appeared there was a miscommunication between Pinhero and Oyedepo.

    He said Pinheiro had approached the defence lead lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN) in his office, through a junior lawyer who also appeared in court alongside Oyedepo, that today’s hearing would not be convenient for them to proceed.  

    He said: “And, as senior counsel, it was best agreed by way of convenient for another date. It was agreed administratively that junior lawyers be sent to court today to formally take a date as agreed by parties for June 27.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello: EFCC lawyers pick new date, say Thursday not convenient

    “I personally also approached the registry to confirm this information and it was confirmed to me. That was why I told the court that my appearance today was for another matter.

    “What the prosecution has done this morning is an ambush to bring the defendant once again to the realms of social media,” he said.

    Adedipe insisted that it was at Pinheiro’s instance that the case should be adjourned till June 27 for arraignment.

    He noted that if not for the decision of the prosecution to seek an adjournment to a future date for the arraignment, the ex-governor was ready to appear in court today.

    “Under 266 of ACJA, there are instances when defendants don’t need to come and this is one of them.

     “We came here to pick a date. Of what use will the defendant coming here be? It is the prosecuting counsel that approached us, we did not approach them. We have nothing to hide,” Adedipe said.

    In his response, Oyedepo faulted Adedipe’s position, stating that he was not aware of any meeting between Pinheiro and the defence’s legal team.

    Oyedepo noted that the order of the court at the last adjourned date was for the defendant to appear in court today for arraignment.

    He denied knowledge of any meeting between Pinhero and Abdulwahab, where it was agreed that the matter be adjourned till June 27.

    At a point, both lawyers engaged in heated arguments as they resulted to agree on what transpired.

    The judge subsequently intervened, following which Adedipe apologized to both the court and the prosecution team over Bello’s absence, which he blamed on the agreement between lawyers on both sides.

    On his part, Oyedepo also apologized to the court for the altercation and urged the court to document the apology of the defence lawyer for not producing the defendant in court.

    At that point, another Senior Advocate, Simon Lough, who said he was in court for a separate case intervened.

    Lough was of the view that the altercation between both senior lawyers over a simple issue was unnecessary.

    He noted that since Adedipe had explained why the defendant was not in court, a new date ought to be simply agreed on.

    Lough said at the new date, the court could inquire from Pinheiro what transpired.

    He advised the lawyers to stop the argument in order not to waste the time of the court which still has other cases to attend to.

    Justice Nwite then adjourned till June 27 as agreed by the lawyers and upon an undertaking that the defendant would appear on the next adjourned date for his arraignment.

  • Yahaya Bello: EFCC lawyers pick new date, say Thursday not convenient

    Yahaya Bello: EFCC lawyers pick new date, say Thursday not convenient

    The Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned arraignment of the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on an alleged money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to June 27, following an agreement by the counsels of the two parties. 

    A new date, June 27, had earlier been reportedly fixed for arraignment at the instance of the EFCC counsels.

    There was, however, a mild drama in court when Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, announced appearance for EFCC and claimed ignorance of the agreement.

    At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Counsel to the ex-governor,  Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that the EFCC lawyers approached AbdulWahab Mohammed SAN, who is the counsel for the defendant, that the June 13 date would not be convenient for them to proceed and that they had to agree by way of convenience for another date to be set.

    Read Also: Group to Yahaya Bello: appear in court and defend your integrity

    Adedipe SAN, who was in court for another matter, was surprised when he heard that Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, was in court for the Yahaya Bello/EFCC case.

    “They (EFCC) agreed that junior counsels would be sent to court today to formally pick a date. And the registry can confirm this,” Adedipe said.

    “Kemi Pinhero SAN is the lead counsel, he has been calling us to say today is not convenient,” he added. 

    But for the decision of the EFCC to seek an adjournment to a future date for his arraignment, ex-governor Yahaya Bello, was said to be ready to appear in court.

    “Under 266 ACJA there are instances when defendants don’t need to come and this is one of them. We came here to pick a date. Of what use will the defendant coming here be? It is the prosecuting counsel that approached us, we did not approach them. We have nothing to hide,” Adedipe noted.

    In a strange twist, however, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, said he was not aware of any meeting that happened outside the court, that he did not know about the understanding to adjourn till 27th.

    Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the case to June 27 after an undertaken by Adedipe SAN that the defendant would appear on that day.

    Nwite said, ordinarily, an agreement outside the court that a new date should be picked should not be enough to ignore the previous undertaken.

  • JUST IN: Court fixes June 27 as new date for Yahaya Bello’s arrangement

    JUST IN: Court fixes June 27 as new date for Yahaya Bello’s arrangement

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday abandoned its earlier request for a change in the date for arraignment of former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, from June 13 without informing the defendant’s lawyers.

    Read Also: Group to Yahaya Bello: appear in court and defend your integrity

    A new date, Thursday, June 27, had been reportedly fixed for hearing in the alleged money laundering case instituted by EFCC against Bello, at the instance of the anti-graft agency’s lawyers.

    At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel to Bello, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that the EFCC lawyers approached Aliyu AbdulWahab, SAN, who is the counsel for the defendant, that the June 13 date would not be convenient for them to proceed and that Wahab had to agree by way of convenience for another date to be set.

    He said he was surprised when he heard that EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo was in court.

    Details shortly…

  • Group to Yahaya Bello: appear in court and defend your integrity

    Group to Yahaya Bello: appear in court and defend your integrity

    As the ongoing N80.2 billion fraud case against the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) resumes on Thursday, an Abuja-based civil group, Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCR), has called on the ex-governor to stop disregarding the court and appear to defend himself.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the EFCC’s application for the former governor to appear in court for his trial. 

    Meanwhile, Bello has filed an application to vacate the arrest warrant issued against him. 

    However, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that Bello must appear in court before making any application.

    The case has been adjourned to June 13.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in the ruling, insisted that even if the arrest warrant was illegally obtained, the defendant (Bello) should have still shown up in court.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC chair’s case against contempt proceeding

     He said that the order of court subsisted until it is set aside, even if there is irregularity. 

    The judge said Yahaya Bello’s staying away amounted to disregard to the sanctity of the court. 

    “Bello should come to court on his own not through EFCC for arraignment on the next adjourned date,” the judge declared. 

    Bello’s  lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), had assured the court that “efforts would be made to contact the former governor to appear in court on the next adjourned date. 

    In a statement, the group’s coordinator, Akinloye Oyeniyi, said: “We recall that this matter has generated so much unnecessary and unneeded brouhaha. This is a simple case of allegations and clearance of oneself. But here we are seeing the court almost begging the defendant to come to court despite its earlier ruling. This is terrible and uncalled for.” 

    The group urged Bello to use the opportunity of the next adjourned day of June 13, 2024, to appear and clear all doubts about his integrity and respect for the judiciary.

     “Like other Nigerians, groups and the court, we are also joining the chorus to ask Alhaji Yahaya Bello to appear before the court to clear his name, which is very necessary. We cannot be handling issues of this nature in the media and gossip centres. This is a serious matter and everyone should be involved to lay the matter to rest,” Oyeniyi said.

  • Activists to EFCC: those calling for Yahaya Bello’s arrest ‘tools in hands of desperate political actors’

    Activists to EFCC: those calling for Yahaya Bello’s arrest ‘tools in hands of desperate political actors’

    Scores of activists hit the streets of Lagos on Saturday demanding an end to what they described as the mischievous use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) platform to malign perceived enemies by opposition forces.

    The activists, who frowned at the consistent call for anarchy in a democratic setting by those that their investigations had established to be working for known opposition figures in Kogi State, called on the EFCC to ignore the “sponsored, desperate calls” and focus on toeing the path of the rule of law.

    The over 80 Human Rights Civil Society Organisations, under the broad umbrella of Citizens Action Against Lawlessness, said those calling for the EFCC to ignore an ongoing court process and forcefully arrest a defendant, former Governor Yahaya Bello, were not only ignorant of the rule of law and up to some mischief, but also tools in the hands of desperate political actors to rubbish the integrity of the Commission.

    While commending the EFCC for heeding the calls of reasonable, unbiased Nigerians and CSOs for the Commission to correct past mistakes and avoid disregard for the rule of law, the activists labelled those calling for Yahaya Bello’s arrest as anarchists who the EFCC boss must be wary of.

    “The same way this particular group of people have spread falsehood against judges, who they earlier boasted were for them, against prominent figures perceived to be close to President Bola Tinubu, and against APC governors that they felt were supporting them during the election in Kogi and at the Tribunal, is the same way they will turn against the EFCC boss with baseless allegations. It is their stock in trade. The EFCC boss and other relevant authorities must detect this and put them in their place,” Segun Abegunde, Co-Convener of the Joint CSOs platform, said.

    Abegunde, who is also the Coordinator of the South West Progressive Youths Organisation stated: “We insist that this is beyond corruption investigation but political persecution. Some sponsored anarchists still went to the EFCC Zonal office today to call on the Commission to use military force to attack the defendant’s known residences and abduct him. There have been insinuations that they are even planning to use fake soldiers in order to inflict maximum damage.”

    “The target of these anarchists is to provoke crisis so that a state of emergency can be declared in the state. If they’ve lost at the polls and at the Tribunal, they most likely think they can create a crisis that will still serve their purpose. Why the desperation to hunt the man down at all costs? 

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello vs EFCC: Northern groups visit Lamido of Adamawa, Zulum, seek Tinubu’s intervention

    “Many who understand the politics in the state know that these calls are nothing more than a revenge mission for a botched Igala agenda, believed to be the sole fault of Bello, as well as a way for other political enemies in the state to get their pound of flesh,” the activists noted. 

    According to them: “These anarchists” must be called to order as they have allowed their insatiable appetite for revenge turn them into agents of destruction for the country.

    “We call on President Bola Tinubu to call on the security agencies to be at alert as nothing bad must happen to Yahaya Bello or any of his family members.

    “Let the courts decide Yahaya Bello’s fate. Desperate opposition forces should not plot to kill him by all means. We demand due court processes. We say no to political persecution. We say no to opposition politicians using EFCC to attack Yahaya Bello who they consider their political enemy. 

    “EFCC must avoid anarchists bent on tarnishing its image. They should rather sharpen their political skills and leave the anti-graft agency alone. We will always give our unflinching support to the EFCC to carry out its duties strictly in line with the rule of the same law that set it up,” the activists said.

  • Kogi indigenes caution EFCC over Yahaya Bello’s case

    Kogi indigenes caution EFCC over Yahaya Bello’s case

    Some concerned Kogi indigenes under the auspices of the Kogi Youth Leaders Forum, have warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against allowing embittered and desperate ethnic jingoists to lead them astray in the case against former Governor Yahaya Bello.

    Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the chairman of the forum, Benjamin Oguche, noted that those still calling for Bello’s arrest in the face of an ongoing court process, were either uninformed or out to rubbish the image of EFCC while pursuing their prolonged vendetta mission.

    The indigenes stated that since the allegation of corruption against Bello became public, some persons who are afraid of losing at the polls have sponsored their tribesmen to maliciously impugn Bello’s character.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests seven for ‘illegal’ mining in Kwara

    The Kogi Youth Leaders Forum expressed concern that the EFCC’s collaboration with those individuals will rubbish the commission’s image and perpetuate the ethnic struggle.

    They noted that the ongoing court process should be allowed to run its course without interference from external forces.

    The group also condemned the recent protests in the UK, Lagos, and Abuja, which they believe are bankrolled by individuals with a sinister plan to suppress the fundamental rights of others.

    The Kogi indigenes expressed confidence in the judiciary and urged the EFCC to disregard the propaganda of ethnic agents and focus on diligent prosecution.

    They warned against allowing ethnic bitterness and hatred to divide the state and perpetuate injustice.

    The group called for unity and peaceful coexistence among all ethnic groups in the State.

  • CSOs seek international intervention over Yahaya Bello’s probe

    CSOs seek international intervention over Yahaya Bello’s probe

    The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Kogi Youths under the aegis of the Kogi Youth Renaissance Movement (KYRM) has appealed to international communities to intervene in the ongoing case against the immediate past governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja recently, the convener coalition of civil society group, Ayanwale Idris, and the national coordinator, Kogi Youth Renaissance Movement (KYRM), Dr. Ben Uguche, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure a fair and impartial investigation and avoid media trials and propaganda.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello vs EFCC: Northern groups visit Lamido of Adamawa, Zulum, seek Tinubu’s intervention

    The groups emphasised the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting the legal process. 

    They encouraged all parties involved to allow the justice system to run its course and avoid taking actions that could undermine the integrity of the legal process.

    They also expressed optimism that with patience and dedication, the truth will be revealed, and justice will be served.

  • Yahaya Bello vs EFCC: Northern groups visit Lamido of Adamawa, Zulum, seek Tinubu’s intervention

    Yahaya Bello vs EFCC: Northern groups visit Lamido of Adamawa, Zulum, seek Tinubu’s intervention

    Northern youth groups have continued their tour across the region to voice concerns over what they perceive as the unjust treatment of former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

    The groups, notably the Northern Youth Movement for Good Governance and Democratic Values and the North Central Progressive Voice, joined forces in what they termed the “Northern Nigeria Solidarity Walk and World Press Conference,” as they converged in Yola as well as Maiduguri on Thursday and Friday respectively. 

    The groups which earlier held a press conference in the capital of Adamawa State, visited the Lamido of Adamawa HRH Alhaji Mohammed Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha at his Palace in Yola where they submitted a copy of their open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, urging the royal father to convey their message to Mr President.

    The letter, beginning with a respectful greeting to Tinubu, outlines the organization’s dedication to upholding the independence of the judiciary and civil society. 

    It recounts the events of April 17th, 2024, when the EFCC conducted a raid on Yahaya Bello’s home in connection with alleged money laundering charges. 

    The group expressed concern over the EFCC’s actions and potential violations of constitutional principles and the rule of law.

    Drawing attention to a court order issued by the Lokoja High Court on February 9th, 2024, which prohibited the EFCC from arresting or prosecuting Yahaya Bello, the letter highlights the EFCC’s subsequent appeal and the pending motion for a stay of execution. 

    The group criticised the EFCC’s decision to secure a warrant for Bello’s arrest from another court while the appeal was still pending, emphasizing the importance of due process and respect for judicial authority.

    Similarly, the group moved to Maiduguri the Borno State Capital on Friday where they held a special Jumaat service and offered special prayers for quick resolution of the saga. 

    Earlier in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, the group addressed the press and observed a solidarity walk to the State Government House to submit their Open letter to the governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum. 

    The group submitted the letter to the governor for onward delivery to President Tinubu.

    Its primary objective was “to seek urgent intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the ongoing face-off between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC.”

    The coalition commenced their activities with a World Press Conference held at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, a few weeks ago and have continued to move around all the Northern States, where they issued an open letter addressed to President Tinubu, outlining their grievances and urging swift action to resolve the impasse between Bello and the EFCC. 

    It said it is “seeking President Tinubu’s intervention to foster peaceful resolutions.”

    The groups emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in addressing what they perceived as injustice and urged stakeholders to uphold democratic principles.

    During the press conference, Mall Abubakar, the spokesperson for the coalition, commended legal practitioners and other nationalists who have advised the EFCC to follow due process in handling the matter. 

    As the coalition plans to continue their solidarity walks in other Northern states, their message reverberates across the nation, drawing attention to the need for ethical governance and the protection of individual rights within the Nigerian political landscape.

    The group described President Tinubu as “an excellent believer of rule of law, due process and peaceful cohabitation, as such he should quickly intervene in the matter to avoid further crisis between the former governor and EFCC.”

  • Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC chair’s case against contempt proceeding

    Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC chair’s case against contempt proceeding

    The scheduled hearing for the appeal filed by the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, against the Kogi High Court’s order requiring him to show cause in an alleged contempt case, was stalled on Monday, May 20, before the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

    The Court of Appeal had, on May 3, granted an ex-parte motion filed by the EFCC Chairman for a stay of proceedings in the alleged contempt case before the Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja and fixed a hearing for May 20.

    When parties got to court on Monday, they were told by an official of the court that there would be no sitting.

    The official said: “We are holding a workshop, where our Justices are in attendance. Therefore, there is no sitting today.

    “The next adjourned date will be communicated to counsel to the parties for all cases scheduled for today.

    “We are sorry for the inconvenience this might have caused.”

    The court official was referring to the two-day workshop organised by the Court of Appeal to review the adjudication process during the 2023 election litigation season.

    Read Also: Arrest warrant: Court orders Yahaya Bello to appear

    Justice I. A. Jamil of the Kogi High Court had summoned the EFCC Chairman to appear on May 13 to show why he should not be committed to prison for allegedly disobeying the court’s orders.

    Justice Jamil had, in a ruling held that “the said act was carried out by the respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which is valid and subsisting when they carried out the act.”

    The judge held that the EFCC’s act of attempting to arrest ex-Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello during the pendency of an earlier restraining order, amounted to contempt.

    He said the action of EFCC officials who laid siege on Bello’s residence as early as 8 am on April 17, with a bid to arrest him despite a court order restraining the EFCC from taking such action, pending the determination of the originating motion, amounted to contempt.

    Justice Jamil’s ruling was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Bello, through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, where he prayed to the court for an order to issue and serve the respondent (EFCC chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show why the order of committal should not be made on him.

    Bello had, in his motion, complained among others, that the respondents (the EFCC and its Chairman) had engaged in some acts, in respect of which they had been restrained by the Kogi High Court on February 9, pending the hearing and determination of the fundamental rights enforcement suit he filed.

  • Arrest warrant: Court orders Yahaya Bello to appear

    Arrest warrant: Court orders Yahaya Bello to appear

    • Says ex-gov must appear even if warrant was illegally obtained

    • Adjourns to June 13 for arraignment

    Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), counsel to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, yesterday promised to produce his client before the Federal High Court on June 13 for arraignment in respect of the 19-count charge money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Bello is accused of laundering about N80.2 billion belonging to the state.

    Mohammed gave the promise to produce Bello after Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, rejected his application for a stay of further proceedings in the case pending the determination of an appeal by the EFCC on a contempt proceeding against the agency’s Chairman in Lokoja.

    Mohammed said his client was not afraid to attend court to answer to the charge against him, but was only  scared of being killed because of the information that he got.

    “Our client is not afraid to attend court in respect of the charge. But, he fears for his life,” he told the court.

    “By the information he has, he is afraid and fears for his life. Will the complainant not arrest him when he comes to court? This is one of the issues,” Mohammed said.

    However, Oyedepo, said EFCC is a law abiding organisation and would not take any illegal action against the defendant.

    He noted that the agency earlier undertook not to execute the arrest warrant should the defendant voluntarily submit himself for trial.

    Turning to the defence lawyer, Oyedepo said: “The EFCC will not kill your client. We have never killed anyone before.”

    “But my lord, Adoke collapsed in their custody,” Bello’s lawyer retorted light-heartedly.

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    Justice Nwite, in a ruling, held that the former governor ought to show respect to the court by appearing before it before making any application.

    According to Justice Nwite, even if the arrest warrant was illegally obtained, the defendant (Bello) should have still shown up in court.

    The judge had, on April 23, fixed today (May 10) for the ruling on the ex-governor’s application to set aside the arrest warrant against him.

    The judge had on, April 17, issued an arrest warrant to EFCC for Bello’s arrest.

    The order was made after the lawyer who appeared for EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, moved the ex-parte application to the effect.

    But Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, on April 23, prayed the court to set aside the arrest warrant against their client 

    He canvassed that the arrest warrant had become unnecessary since their lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, had accepted the service of the charge on behalf of the ex-governor.

    He argued that the arrest warrant order, having been made before the charge ought to be set aside suo motu (on its own accord, without any request by the parties involved).

    The senior lawyer argued that contrary to Pinheiro’s submission that the ex-governor must be in court first before any application could be entertained being a criminal case, he said the anti-graft agency also made an application on April 18 after the warrant arrest was issued to EFCC on April 17 and that the court granted it.

    The lawyer submitted that the arrest warrant was issued in favour of the EFCC by the court in violation of fair hearing to their client.

    According to him, the complainant made an application for substituted service on 18th day of April after the arrest warrant had been issued on 17th day of April and today, my noble lord granted it.

    “The court must satisfy itself that the defendant (Bello) will not be prejudiced in fairness if the warrant of arrest continues to hang on his neck, having been made before service of the charge contrary to Section 394 of ACJA,” Adeola argued.

    He argued that justice should be a three-way traffic; that is, justice to the prosecution, the defendant and the public.

    He said for Bello to appear in court, he must have the notion that he would get justice.

    Adedipe also argued that the EFCC was an unconstitutional body because its establishment was not ratified by the 36 states of the federation.

    He said that for the EFCC to become a constitutional body, the 36 states of the federation must ratify the law establishing it as against the current position, that the EFCC Establishment Act was unilaterally ratified by the Federal Government.

    He therefore asked the judge to vacate the arrest warrant against the former governor.

    But Pinheiro vehemently opposed the application.

    The appropriateness of the siege on Bello’s residence by operatives of the Commission about two weeks ago had elicited a  heated debate across the country, particularly with the realisation that there had been a restraining order against such action, which had not been vacated as of the time of such action.