The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to the 27th of June 2024, News About Nigeria reports.
This is coming after the absence of the lead counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Kemi Pinhero (SAN), in court on Thursday.
It was gathered that Pinhero had earlier notified the defence lawyers that he could not make it to court and requested a new date for the defendant to enter his plea to the 19-count charge the anti-graft agency preferred against him.
However, when the matter was called up before trial by Justice Emeka Nwite, another senior prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), announced his appearance for the EFCC and expressed the readiness of his team to proceed with the case.
Justice Nwite agreed to shift the arraignment to a later date.
Recall that Bello, who piloted the affairs of Kogi State for eight years, is facing a charge bordering on his alleged complicity in money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of about N80.2 billion.
Even though he previously failed to appear before the court for his arraignment, he briefed lawyers to file an application to set aside an arrest warrant that was issued against him on April 17, as well as to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to try him.
The former governor maintained that the EFCC acted in breach of a subsisting judgement of a High Court in Kogi State when it entered the charge against him and also applied for a bench warrant to be issued for his arrest.
