NewStats: 3,261,910 , 8,175,516 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 12:36 AM 166d5z

The embattled immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello said he was ready to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to answer to the 19-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.

Though Bello was absent for his arraignment, he briefed a team of lawyers who addressed the court on his behalf on Tuesday.

A member of his legal team, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that his client would have made himself available for the proceedings, but was afraid that he would be arrested.

“The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head,” Adedipe, SAN, submitted.

Consequently, he urged the court to set aside the exparte order of arrest it earlier issued against the former governor.

Adedipe, SAN, contended that as at the time the order of arrest was made, the charge had not been served on his client as required by the law.

He noted that it was only at the resumed proceedings on Tuesday that the court okayed substituted service of the charge on the defendant, through his lawyer.

“As at the time the warrant was issued, the order for substituted service had not been made. That order was just made this morning.

“A warrant of arrest should not be hanging on his neck when we leave this court,” counsel to the defendant added.

Besides, the ex-governor maintained that the EFCC is an illegal organization.

According to him, the Federal Government did not consult the 36 States of the federation before it enacted the EFCC Act through the National Assembly.

He argued that section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, required the various Houses of Assembly of states to ratify the Act before it could become operative.

“This is a very serious matter that borders on the constitution and the tenets of federalism. It has to be resolved because as it stands, the EFCC is an illegal organization,” Bello’s lawyer added.

However, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to refuse the application, insisting that the warrant of arrest should not be set aside until the defendant makes himself available for his trial.

“The defendant cannot stay in hiding and be filing numerous applications. He cannot ask for the arrest order to be vacated until and when the defendant is present in court for his arraignment. He cannot be heard on that applied application.

“The main issue should be ascertaining the whereabouts of the defendant. All these applications he is filing are nothing but dilatory tactics intended to delay his arraignment and frustrate the proceedings.

“If he wants the order of arrest to be discharged, let him come here and make the application.

“Our position is that the defendant should be denied the right of being heard, until he is physically present before this court.”

EFCC’s lawyer further argued that inline with section 396 of ACJA, 2015, the court could not effectively assume jurisdiction to decide any application or objection in the matter, until the defendant is arraigned.

The anti-graft agency said it would not execute the arrest warrant if counsel to the defendant undertake to ensure his presence on the next adjourned date.

“If he gives an undertaking that his client will be in court on the next date, I can assure him that the arrest warrant will not be executed.

“If he gives that assurance, as the prosecution, I will personally apply for the warrant to discharged,” EFCC’s lawyer, Pinheiro, SAN, added.

EFCC told the court that the Supreme Court had since settled the issue of its legality.

“The charge before this court is not against a state or House of Assembly, but against an individual who is said to have laundered public funds.

“It is against an individual who is said to have taken public funds to buy houses in Lagos, Maitama and also transfered funds to his s abroad,” EFCC added.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/i-want-to-appear-in-court-but-im-afraid-of-arrest-yahaya-bello/

Story for the gods

Be fooling yourself and APC ers , werey

Yahaya talk true & shame the devil, you thief ₦80b abi you no thief?

Werey dey fear arrest but you were behaving like little Hitler while in office as governor

Thought them say lion 🦁 is the kings of the jungle.


Where's kogi state white lion afraid of arrest

Yahaya on the Run

A captivating title for action movie

Where is he speaking from?

Aaya Yahaya beele o mere

You are a disgrace to the Pride of Lions.. atleast show some braveness like the lion that you are... White one for that matter you fall my hand

Bloody scoundrel. . . shameless ex gov.

COMRADES, honestly, I find this so absurdly, you're not afraid of looting but you are afraid of an arrest
What a nonsense

Abeg wetin yahaya Bello do tinupoo that these agbadorians suddenly hated him


Why the emergency hatred😂

Yet you looted uncontrollably. The overhyped and famed "white lion" is now a chicken-hearted slowpoke. The criminal runneth when no one pursueth, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Okay

Why is he afraid of arrest if he is clean?

Bello doesn't understand the mess he is in already. Person wey him photoshoot done dey everywhere

So politicians can be this afraid.......chai a whole yahaya Bello!
Indeed power does not last forever!

P*SSy as niqqa

Thief ole banza

Kog State Politicians & Drama be like 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I greet you sir

Disappear in court then...


🤕

First go and if them arrest you, I go write again

Shut-your-smelly and dity mouth thief. You called youself the youth of Nigeria future leaders. If you're are not guilty, why running and hiding from the law. Go and defend yourself.

He should not be afraid if he doesn't have a skeleton in her cupboard

Imagine a criminal demanding not to be arrested. This same werey was busy arresting and dealing with anyone he sees as an opposition when he was on seat.

If e sure for u, hand urself over make we check something Mr ex governor

E dey give condition?

The time you de broadcast tatata as a slogan, you be de think power will never leave your hand.

JUST HAVE IT IN MIND THAT U CANT EVEN AVOID BEEN ARRESTED, EVEN WITHOUT PRESENTING YOUR SELF TO EFCC.

LagosFirstSon:
Be fooling yourself and APC ers , werey

Those ones are kuku gullible.

😂😂😂 yahaya bello say the EFCC is an illegal organization, abi na amotekun go come arrest bello for us.