• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
    • Football
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
    • Football
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

Court Fixes January 21 For Ruling In Yahaya Bello’s Case  

by Olakunle Olasanmi
12 months ago
in News
Yahaya Bello
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 21, 2025, to hear the money laundering case brought against the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Advertisement

During the proceedings yesterday, counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, said he had two witnesses already in court.

He said his first application was to formally enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of the defendant, even in his absence.

Advertisement

“My first application is to formally enter a plea of not guilty to the defendant, even in his absence. The second point is that, notwithstanding his physical absence, it is in full compliance with Section 276 of ACJA.

“Flowing from that entry, my lord, it is a humble request that we call the first witness,” he stated.

Pinheiro SAN, in defending his application to enter a plea of not guilty for the Defendant, said, “The right to plead guilty or not guilty is a right that can be waived by the defendant. My lord should hold that the defendant has waived that right.”

RELATED NEWS

BREAKING: Presidential Pardon Exercise Under Review, Subject To Change — AGF Fagbemi

IAWPA International Spokesman Hails Amupitan’s Appointment As INEC Chair

PDP Convention: Court Warns Parties Against Breaching Status Quo Order

Miyetti Allah Suspends Taraba, Bauchi, Adamawa Chairmen

 

“What prejudice will the defendant suffer if my lord enters a plea of guilty or not guilty in his absence? Even if he were in court and pleaded not guilty, the situation would still be the same. The entry of a plea of not guilty by your lordship is an invitation to the prosecution to come and prove the veracity of the allegations,” he added.

 

However, Michael Adoyi, who appeared for the defendant, kicked against this, saying that the prosecution’s application was made contrary to a subsisting order of Justice Emeka Nwite’s court.

 

“Our first point of response to the application made by the learned senior counsel to the complainant is that the application is made contrary to the subsisting order of this honourable court, even made this morning – that no application can be entertained by this court in the absence of the arraignment of the defendant.

 

“The prosecution has stated severally that the court cannot demonstrate helplessness. The court cannot demonstrate any helplessness in any proceeding and if at all helplessness exists in this proceeding, that helplessness is demonstrated by the prosecution,” he said.

 

Adoyi argued that the court, in a criminal trial, is distinct from the prosecution.

 

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

SendShare10170Tweet6357Share

OTHER NEWS UPDATES

FG Drafting Constitution Amendment Bills, Says Fagbemi
News

BREAKING: Presidential Pardon Exercise Under Review, Subject To Change — AGF Fagbemi

1 hour ago
I Was Never Part Of Tinubu’s Legal Team — Amupitan
News

IAWPA International Spokesman Hails Amupitan’s Appointment As INEC Chair

1 hour ago
Ex-senatorial Hopeful Dumps PDP For APC In Kaduna
News

PDP Convention: Court Warns Parties Against Breaching Status Quo Order

1 hour ago
Advertisement
Leadership join WhatsApp

LATEST UPDATE

‘It’s An Easy Decision’, Judge Halts Land Transfer For Trump Library

22 minutes ago

BREAKING: Presidential Pardon Exercise Under Review, Subject To Change — AGF Fagbemi

1 hour ago

IAWPA International Spokesman Hails Amupitan’s Appointment As INEC Chair

1 hour ago

PDP Convention: Court Warns Parties Against Breaching Status Quo Order

1 hour ago

Miyetti Allah Suspends Taraba, Bauchi, Adamawa Chairmen

2 hours ago
Load More

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
    • Football
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.