Yahaya Bello’s Lawyer Seeks to Withdraw from Money Laundering Case as EFCC Pushes for Court Appearance
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its lead counsel Mr. Kemi Pinhero, has expressed dissatisfaction with the absence and urged the court to hold Bello’s legal team accountable for a scheduled court appearance where Bello was expected to be arraigned, but was absent as he argued that Bello’s lawyers had failed to fulfill an undertaking to ensure his presence in court.
Meanwhile, Adeola Adedipe, Yahaya bello’s lawyer has recently applied to withdraw from representing former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in a high-profile case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.The case involves a 19-count charge alleging money laundering and misappropriation of public funds amounting to approximately N80.2 billion.
“My lord, our application is that since one of the lawyers is present in court, he should be moved to the dock and dealt with him summarily, that is what the law says.
“We urge the court to exercise disciplinary jurisdiction over the lawyers so as to preserve the integrity of the judiciary.
“If a Chief Justice of Nigeria can be docked before an inferior tribunal, who then is an SAN or a former governor in terms of status?
“Even a former President of the United States of America was docked. These senior lawyers have been helping the defendant to treat this court with scorn.”
However in response, Bello’s legal team, led by Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed, wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requesting that the trial be transferred to the Lokoja Division, citing territorial jurisdiction. Despite this request, the proceedings continued in Abuja.
“However, I was made to understand that a letter had been written on behalf of the defendant to the honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court requesting in substance, that this matter be administratively transfered to the Federal High Court, Lokoja Judicial Division, which we believe have territorial jurisdiction to handle this matter.
“That letter was received at the Chief Judge’s Chambers and the office of the of honourable CJ wrote the prosecution team through Mr. Iseoluwa Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on June 13, notifying him that administrative steps has been activated, whereof he was directed to provide a response to the request for transfer of the matter.
“My lord, as of this morning, I am not aware whether there has been a response by the prosecution team in compliance to the directive of the CJ.
The EFCC pressed the court to compel Bello’s defense team to explain why their client was not present, despite the earlier undertaking. The commission emphasized that even the submission of a petition against a judge to the National Judicial Council (NJC) does not suspend ongoing court proceedings.
