• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Friday, October 31, 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 Rejects EFCC’s Request To Arraign Yahaya Bello Without Counsel, Adjourns To Dec 13

by Olakunle Olasanmi
11 months ago
in News
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, adjourned sitting on the alleged N80bn fraud charge against the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to December 13, 2024 for the Motion for abridgment and possible arraignment.

Advertisement

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the sitting in the interest of fair hearing, noting that the matter had been originally adjourned to January 21, 2025.

When the matter was called on Friday, the former governor was asked why his lawyers were not in court. He said he was only informed of the sitting late Thursday night and so could not contact his lawyers to be at the court.

Advertisement

The EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, insisted that the Defendant’s plea be taken.

“What the law requires is the presence of the Defendant, not the presence of his lawyers,” he argued. But the judge declined.

While delivering a short ruling, Justice Nwite said, “The matter came up on the 30th of October 2024. It was adjourned to 21st January 2025. From the statement of the Defendant, his Lawyers are not aware of today’s date. In the interest of fair hearing, I will not proceed for arraignment.

RELATED NEWS

You Have Fore-knowlege Of My Trial, Recuse Yourself, Lawyer Tells Judge

Truck Crushes 5 Traders To Death In Ondo

Forte GCC CEO Engr. Khalil Hails Keystone Bank MD Imam On Investiture As CIBN Fellow

Governor Alia, Mary Ikoku, Others Win Awards At Accolade Africa Growth Summit In UK

“The prosecution should serve the Defendant’s Lawyer with the application for abridgment of time while we come back to take that.

“This matter is peculiar. It is peculiar in the sense that we have already agreed on a date, which is in January. It will be unfair if the matter is taken without the defendant’s counsel. It would be a different thing if the defendant had no counsel,” the Judge said.

The Court suggested December 13, 2024, for the Motion for abridgment.

However, the EFCC counsel applied that the date be for Motion and possible arraignment and that the Court should order that the defendant should remain in EFCC custody till the December 13 when he is to appear before the Court.

The judge agreed and so ordered. He directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendant’s counsel, while the Defendant should remain in the EFCC’s custody till December 13.

Recall that at the last hearing on October 30, Justice Nwite had adjourned arraignment to January 21, 2025. But the EFCC had applied for the abridgment of the adjourned date initially fixed for arraignment.

The Defendant’s lawyers were, however, not put on notice.

Former Governor Bello is already in EFCC custody over a fresh N110bn charge before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

The ruling on his bail application was adjourned to December 10, while Bello and his Co-Defendants were to remain in the Commission’s custody till that date.

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

Breaking News: Nigerians at home and abroad can now earn in USD by acquiring ultra-premium domains from $3,000 and profiting up to $36,000. Perfect for professionals. Click here.

SendShareTweetShare

OTHER NEWS UPDATES

Lawyers Raise Alarm Over ‘Gradual Desecration’ Of Legal Profession In Rivers
News

You Have Fore-knowlege Of My Trial, Recuse Yourself, Lawyer Tells Judge

52 minutes ago
We Have Not Chosen Anybody As Ondo Monarch – Kingmakers
News

Truck Crushes 5 Traders To Death In Ondo

2 hours ago
Forte GCC CEO Engr. Khalil Hails Keystone Bank MD Imam On Investiture As CIBN Fellow
News

Forte GCC CEO Engr. Khalil Hails Keystone Bank MD Imam On Investiture As CIBN Fellow

2 hours ago
Advertisement
Leadership join WhatsApp

LATEST UPDATE

You Have Fore-knowlege Of My Trial, Recuse Yourself, Lawyer Tells Judge

52 minutes ago

Truck Crushes 5 Traders To Death In Ondo

2 hours ago

King Charles III Strips Prince Andrew of Title, Orders Him Out of Royal Lodge

2 hours ago

Forte GCC CEO Engr. Khalil Hails Keystone Bank MD Imam On Investiture As CIBN Fellow

2 hours ago

Governor Alia, Mary Ikoku, Others Win Awards At Accolade Africa Growth Summit In UK

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.