By Charles Igwe
Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has declared his readiness to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to address the 19-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Despite his absence during the arraignment, Bello, through his legal team, assured the court of his willingness to cooperate with the legal proceedings.
Addressing the court on behalf of Bello, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, explained that his client was prepared to attend the proceedings but harbored concerns about a pending arrest warrant. Adedipe emphasized that Bello’s absence was not out of defiance but rather a precautionary measure to avoid potential arrest.
Requesting the court to quash the arrest warrant, Adedipe argued that the order was issued prematurely, as the charge had not been officially served to Bello at the time. He highlighted that the court had only recently granted permission for the charge to be served through his legal representation.
Furthermore, Bello’s legal team challenged the legitimacy of the EFCC, alleging that its establishment violated constitutional protocols. They contended that the EFCC Act, enacted by the National Assembly without consultation with state legislatures, breached the principles of federalism outlined in the 1999 Constitution.
In response, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to reject Bello’s request, insisting that the arrest warrant should remain in effect until Bello willingly participates in his trial.
