JUST-IN: Court Orders Substituted Service On Ex-Gov Bello Through Lawyer

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, ordered the service of fresh charges in the alleged N80 billion fraud case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order while delivering a ruling in an application filed by EFCC for substituted service on Bello.

Lead counsel to the anti-graft agency, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued the application.

At the Tuesday’s proceedings, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Bello, was not in court but was represented by his lawyer.

Justice Nwite had last week issued a bench warrant against Bello following an application to that effect by EFCC.

The bench warrant was said to have conflicted with a subsisting valid order of a Kogi State High Court which restrained the arrest or detention of the former governor pending the determination of the matter on notice.

The EFCC subsequently declared the former governor wanted after an unsuccessful siege laid on his Abuja residence to effect his arrest.

Meanwhile, Bello’s lawyers were presently arguing application for vacation of the arrest warrant issued against him for his arrest by the court.

If granted, the former governor can on his own honour court summons without arrest or involvement of EFCC, or any other security agencies.