Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi state, has requested that his ongoing criminal prosecution be transferred to Kogi from an Abuja federal high court.
In a Thursday court session, Bello, represented by Adeola Adedipe, argued that the issue should only be handled in the state because the alleged offense was committed in Kogi.
Adedipe called the court’s attention to a letter that had been sent to Chief Judge John Tsoho requesting that Kogi handle the case.
‘After the previous adjourned date’s proceedings, my lord, I returned and provided our team with a report on what transpired in court,’ he stated.
Read Also: Abuja School reimburses the EFCC for $760,910 in Bello children’s fees.
But I was shown to see that a We believe that the federal high court’s Lokoja judicial division has the territorial jurisdiction to handle this case,
so we wrote a letter on behalf of the defendant to the honorable chief judge of the federal high court requesting, among other things, that this matter be administratively transferred there.
After receiving the letter at the chief judge’s chambers, the prosecution team was notified by the honorable CJ’s office through Mr. Iseoluwa Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN,
on June 13 that administrative procedures had been initiated and he needed to respond to the request for the matter to be transferred.
‘My lord, as of this morning, I do not know if the law enforcement team has responded in accordance with the direction of CJ.
‘We have not received any ruling from the CJ regarding this request either.
It is also known to me that this court has received official notice of the CJ’s administrative order.
‘The information I just highlighted is referenced in two documents that we included to an affidavit that we filed.
‘The court is the first party I owe.’ I’m just asking the court to state the facts as they were at this time, without asking for anything.
EFCC PURPOSE
In response, the defendant’s attorney, Kemi Pinhero, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
implored the judge to order the defense attorney to provide an explanation for the defendant’s nonappearance in court, given his June 13 commitment to make sure he shows up in court to be arraigned.
‘The story of the defense lawyer as dilatory and a further attempt to treat this court with scorn,’ he begged the judge to dismiss.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicted Bello on 19 counts, including alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and cash theft of N80.2 billion.
Additionally, on April 17, the commission acquired an arrest warrant for the former governor.
Bello did not show up for the April 18 scheduled arraignment.
Bello’s attorney, Abdulwahab Mohammed, had informed the judge that the court lacked the authority to issue the arrest warrant in the first place.
The presiding judge, Emeke Nwite, nevertheless, declined to revoke the arrest warrant twice.
Where is the former governor now? continue to be unclear.
Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi state, has requested that his ongoing criminal prosecution be transferred to Kogi from an Abuja federal high court.
In a Thursday court session, Bello, represented by Adeola Adedipe, argued that the issue should only be handled in the state because the alleged offense was committed in Kogi.
Adedipe called the court’s attention to a letter that had been sent to Chief Judge John Tsoho requesting that Kogi handle the case.
‘After the previous adjourned date’s proceedings, my lord, I returned and provided our team with a report on what transpired in court,’ he stated.
But I was shown to see that a We believe that the federal high court’s Lokoja judicial division has the territorial jurisdiction to handle this case,
so we wrote a letter on behalf of the defendant to the honorable chief judge of the federal high court requesting, among other things, that this matter be administratively transferred there.
After receiving the letter at the chief judge’s chambers, the prosecution team was notified by the honorable CJ’s office through Mr. Iseoluwa Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN,
on June 13 that administrative procedures had been initiated and he needed to respond to the request for the matter to be transferred.
‘My lord, as of this morning, I do not know if the law enforcement team has responded in accordance with the direction of CJ.
‘We have not received any ruling from the CJ regarding this request either.
It is also known to me that this court has received official notice of the CJ’s administrative order.
‘The information I just highlighted is referenced in two documents that we included to an affidavit that we filed.
‘The court is the first party I owe.’ I’m just asking the court to state the facts as they were at this time, without asking for anything.
EFCC PURPOSE
In response, the defendant’s attorney, Kemi Pinhero, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
implored the judge to order the defense attorney to provide an explanation for the defendant’s nonappearance in court, given his June 13 commitment to make sure he shows up in court to be arraigned.
‘The story of the defense lawyer as dilatory and a further attempt to treat this court with scorn,’ he begged the judge to dismiss.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicted Bello on 19 counts, including alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and cash theft of N80.2 billion.
Additionally, on April 17, the commission acquired an arrest warrant for the former governor.
Bello did not show up for the April 18 scheduled arraignment.
Bello’s attorney, Abdulwahab Mohammed, had informed the judge that the court lacked the authority to issue the arrest warrant in the first place.
The presiding judge, Emeke Nwite, nevertheless, declined to revoke the arrest warrant twice.
Where is the former governor now? continue to be unclear.
