EFCC Fails to Present Yahaya Bello in Court for Planned Arraignment

The arraignment of former Governor Yahaya Bello on fresh charges of money laundering, valued at ₦82 billion, was stalled on Thursday, November 28, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to produce him before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

This fresh 19-count charge comes in addition to an earlier 16-count charge worth ₦110.4 billion, for which Bello is currently being held on remand by an FCT High Court.

Sources at the court disclosed that the case could not proceed because the necessary documentation had not been filed, preventing the matter from being listed for the day’s hearing.

The arraignment of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on fresh 19-count charges of money laundering totaling ₦82 billion has been rescheduled to January 21, 2025, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. This delay will allow the court to await the outcome of an appeal at the Supreme Court and resolve procedural issues.

In light of the postponement, EFCC lawyers and security operatives stationed at the court withdrew by the afternoon.

This follows Bello’s plea of not guilty to a 16-count fraud charge worth ₦110 billion, for which he was arraigned on Wednesday, November 27, before Justice Maryann Anenih. After his plea, Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN, applied for bail, which EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, opposed, citing its expiration in October.

Justice Anenih remanded Bello and two co-defendants in EFCC custody, pending her ruling on their bail applications, scheduled for December 10, 2024.