Alleged N80.2b fraud: Court insists on Yahaya Bello’s appearance

Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja has insisted that its order made on April 17, for the arrest and production of ex-governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello still subsists.

In a ruling delivered today May 10, the court held that it is disrespectful for Bello to frustrate the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to execute the arrest warrant it issued against him. The court also held that it would not entertain the applications filed by Bello unless he appeared in court and pleaded to a 19-count money laundering charge brought against him by the EFCC.

The judge also rejected the request by Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Muhammed (SAN) that further proceedings in the case be stayed pending the determination of the appeal by the EFCC in relation to a contempt case before a High Court of Kogi state, sitting in Lokoja.

The EFCC is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion.