Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, said he’s now ready to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja. He’s indicted with a 19-count charge for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The ex-governor had evaded arrest from the anti-graft agency, compelling the Commission to declare him a wanted person.
According to his counsel, Adeola Adedipe, Mr. Bello is willing to go through trial and answer to all charges. He is only concerned about a possible arrest due to an arrest warrant on him. Addressing the court Tuesday, Adedipe urged the court to vacate the arrest order due to some observed procedural errors.
He claimed, “As at the time the warrant was issued, the order for substituted service had not been made. That order was just made this morning. A warrant of arrest should not be hanging on his neck when we leave this court.”
“EFCC Is An Illegal Organization”
Furthermore, Bello’s legal team contended the legitimacy of EFCC itself. The lead counsel argued that EFCC’s establishment in 2002 in the first place did not comply with the Nigerian constitution. The setting up of EFCC ought to have been ratified by all state Houses Of Assembly. He posited that Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution made the state ratification a key requirement that was not complied with.
“This is a very serious matter that borders on the constitution and the tenets of federalism. It has to be resolved because as it stands, the EFCC is an illegal organization,” Adedipe insisted in court.
EFCC Forced Into Defense
In response, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, replied that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had since settled the issue of the organization’s legality.
“The charge before this court is not against a state or House of Assembly, but against an individual who is said to have laundered public funds”. He accused the ex-governor of “dilatory tactics” and attempts to “frustrate the proceedings” of the case against him.
“The defendant cannot stay in hiding and be filing numerous applications. He cannot ask for the arrest order to be vacated until and when the defendant is present in court for his arraignment. He cannot be heard on that applied application.
“All these applications he is filing are nothing but dilatory tactics intended to delay his arraignment and frustrate the proceedings.
“If he wants the order of arrest to be discharged, let him come here and make the application.
“Our position is that the defendant should be denied the right of being heard, until he is physically present before this court.”
In closing Pinheiro offered to withhold execution of the arrest warrant if Bello’s counsel guaranteed the former governor’s appearance in court at the next hearing.
“I will personally apply for the warrant to be discharged”, he promised.
EFCC is alleging the former governor, often referred to as the White Lion by his admirers, looted the sum of about N84 billion from state treasury while he served as governor of Kogi state for 8 years. He is alleged to have used the proceeds to buy choice houses in Lagos, Abuja and fund his offshore accounts.
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