Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has expressed his readiness to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to respond to the 19-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Despite his absence during his arraignment, Bello briefed a team of lawyers who represented him in court on Tuesday.
Bello’s legal team, led by Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that their client was willing to attend the proceedings but was apprehensive about being arrested.
Adedipe argued for the setting aside of the ex parte order of arrest issued against Bello, stating that the charge had not been served on him as required by law until the court’s recent approval for substituted service.
Bello maintained his stance that the EFCC is an illegal organization, contending that the Federal Government did not consult the 36 states before enacting the EFCC Act. He argued that this contravenes Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires state Houses of Assembly to ratify such acts.
In response, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to reject Bello’s application, stating that the warrant of arrest should remain until the defendant appears for trial. Pinheiro said that Bello’s actions were merely delaying tactics and called for the court to assert jurisdiction over the matter.
