Yahaya Bello presents self to EFCC, detained

BrandPower Magazine 3 hours agoLast Updated: 27/11/2024

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Yahaya Bello presents self to EFCC, detained The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, after he presented himself before the anti-graft agency.

Bello is being prosecuted by the agency over alleged fraud when he served as governor of the north-central state.

EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the former governor of Kogi was at the EFCC at about 12 54 p.m on Tuesday and was detained in its Abuja office.

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He said that Bello, who was declared wanted by the commission, is with his lawyers.

”He is having a session with investigators of the commission.

”He is being detained in our custody and he is going to be arraigned in court accordingly.”

Yahaya Bello, who was declared wanted by the commission, never submitted himself but got arrested by the operatives of the agency in Abuja.

Dele Oyewale said: ”We arrested him (Yahaya Bello) at 12.54pm; he did not surrender himself to the commission, three of his lawyers are here with him.

”Following his arrest, he is having a session with investigators of the commission.

”He is being detained in our custody and he is going to be arraigned in court accordingly,” he said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on Wednesday October 30, 2024 asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in absentia, arguing that his non-appearance in court for arraignment should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.

The EFCC through its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also urged the court to enter a plea of “not guilty” on behalf of Bello.

Bello is facing trial on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2billion. The court had summoned him for arraignment six consecutive times.

Pinheiro told the court that the former governor’s refusal to appear for his arraignment was malicious and that the court should not demonstrate helplessness by not trying him in absentia. “A court can never demonstrate helplessness. That would be an indication of anarchy and society is based on the rule of law. The court demonstrating helplessness will negate the basis of the rule of law,” he said.

Arguing further, the EFCC’s counsel reminded the court that a defendant’s refusal to engage the court’s processes should not frustrate his trial, maintaining that justice is a three-way mechanism. “A criminal trial must not be held hostage, truncated or frustrated by a defendant’s refusal to engage the process. Justice is a three-way street: justice to the defendant, justice to the prosecution who has assembled witnesses and justice to the society”.