The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has pledged his unwavering commitment to pursuing the prosecution of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. In a meeting with journalists at the EFCC headquarters, Olukoyede went so far as to state his willingness to resign if Bello evades prosecution.
The EFCC is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts of alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds exceeding N80.2 billion. Olukoyede has also vowed to hold accountable anyone who obstructed the attempted arrest of the former governor.
Legal Proceedings Underway
The EFCC has served the charges against Bello to his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohamed, following a court order issued on Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Bello's absence from his scheduled arraignment prompted this action.
Justice Nwite, citing relevant legal provisions, directed that the charges be delivered through substituted means due to the apparent difficulty of personally serving Bello. Bello's legal team initially resisted accepting the charges but ultimately complied with the court's order.
Defense Raises Concerns
A member of Bello's legal team, Adedayo Adedipe, expressed concerns about his client receiving a fair trial. He emphasized Bello's willingness to appear in court but cited apprehension regarding impartiality. Adedipe additionally requested the court to retract the arrest warrant issued against Bello, arguing it was issued prematurely.
Bello has previously challenged the EFCC's legal standing, claiming the agency's establishment lacked proper federal and state consultation. The EFCC's legal representative, Kemi Phinheiro, countered this argument, urging the court to maintain the arrest warrant until Bello appears for trial.
Next Steps
With the charges served, the court proceedings against Yahaya Bello are officially underway. The outcome of these legal challenges and Bello's potential appearance will determine the next steps in this high-profile case.
إرسال تعليق