The Court of Appeal in Abuja has mandated former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to present himself for arraignment in a pending N80 billion money laundering case. This ruling was issued after the court dismissed Mr. Bello’s appeals aimed at preventing his trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Mr. Bello with 19 counts of money laundering, alleging that he diverted over N80 billion from the Kogi State Government’s treasury. Despite several scheduled court sessions, the former governor has repeatedly failed to appear for his arraignment.
In a unanimous decision led by Justice Kenneth Amadi, the Appeal Court rejected Mr. Bello’s legal maneuvers to avoid trial and reaffirmed the EFCC’s authority to prosecute him. The court criticized an earlier ruling by the Kogi State High Court, which had temporarily shielded Mr. Bello from arrest, calling it “scandalous.”
The court ordered Mr. Bello to comply with Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act by appearing in court for his arraignment before taking any further legal actions. The ruling emphasized that no court can prevent law enforcement from performing its duties, thus validating the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to bring Mr. Bello to justice.
Be First to Comment