The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, must appear in court to answer to fraud allegations preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC alleges that Bello committed fraud to the tune of 80 billion naira.
On April 23, the court ordered the EFCC to serve Bello with the money laundering charges against him through his lawyer.
In a recent ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite stated that Bello must appear in court before filing any applications or being heard.
The judge cited section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which states that a defendant must make themselves available in court before filing any processes.
The judge also noted that Bello has continued to disobey court orders, and therefore will not be allowed to file any applications or be heard until he appears in court.
Bello’s counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, informed the court that the EFCC had obtained an order from the Court of Appeal stopping the contempt proceedings filed by Bello against the agency at the High Court sitting in Lokoja.
The counsel requested that the Federal High Court await the outcome of the appeal court’s decision, scheduled for May 20, before proceeding with the trial.
The case has been adjourned to June 13.
