Ex-governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court to set aside the arrest warrant issued against him by a Federal High Court in Abuja on April 17.
The court learnt about the appeal on Wednesday through Bello’s lawyer A.M. Adoyi.
Mr Adoyi said that as it concerns the arraignment of the defendant the appropriate thing to do was to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null, or to pull the rug out of the feet of the Supreme Court.
Counsel for the EFCC Kemi Pinheiro, however, told the court that the defendant’s counsels were turning the court into a place for entertainment.
He added that an appeal that the defendant filed at the court of appeal disputing the mode of service of the charge and proof of evidence on their counsel was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on August 28.
Arguing against the defendant’s applications, Pinheiro said, “They had three applications on this – two before your Lordship and one before the Supreme Court. I will now urge your Lordship to demonstrate audacity of coercive power on him.”
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to October 30 for ruling and arraignment.
Last week, Bello said he was at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja but the commission asked him to go without interrogation. Later, the EFCC released a statement, saying the former governor, who is accused of money laundering, was not in its custody.
The anti-graft agency also laid siege on the Kogi government lodge in Abuja in an attempt to arrest Bello.
