The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has adjourned the money laundering case against the immediate former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, until October 30, 2024, for a ruling.
The case brought the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday, granted the adjournment following Bello’s move to appeal to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.
During the hearing, defence counsel A.M. Adoyi informed the court that the matter of Bello’s arraignment, which is under appeal, had been taken to the Supreme Court.
He noted that the Court of Appeal ruling on August 28, which directed Bello to appear before Justice Nwite for arraignment, had been challenged at the apex court.
Adoyi also brought the court’s attention to the September 23 affidavit of record filed in connection with the appeal.
“The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. 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 said.
The EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro wasn’t having any of it. He told the court that the defendant and his counsel had turned the court into a place for entertainment.