EFCC stalls arraignment of Yahaya Bello, adjourns to June 27

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on Thursday, stalled the proposed arraignment of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The prosecution failed to appear before the federal high court Abuja as its earlier requested for a change in the date of arraignment of June 13 to June 27, without informing the defendants.
When the matter was called up, Counsel to Bello, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that the EFCC lawyers approached the lead defense counsel, Aliyu AbdulWahab SAN and informed him that the June 13 date would not be convenient for them.
He explained that the defense had to agree by way of convenience for another date to be set adding that he was surprised when he heard that Rotimi Oyedepo was in court.
“They (EFCC) agreed that junior counsel would be sent to court today to formally pick a date. The registry can confirm this,” Adedipe said.
“Kemi Pinhero SAN has been calling us to say today is not convenient,” he added. Kemi Pinhero is the lead counsel.
According to Bello’s counsel, but for the decision of the EFCC to seek an adjournment to a future date for his arraignment, Gov Bello, was said to be ready to appear in court today.
“Under 266 ACJA there are instances when defendants don’t need to come and this is one of them.
“We came here to pick a date. What is the use of the defendant coming here? It is the prosecuting counsel that approached us, we did not approach them. We have nothing to hide,” Adedipe noted.
Meantime, the alleged money laundering matter has been adjourned till June 27 at the instance of the EFCC counsels.