Court Fixes Nov 14 For Response To Summons, Arraignment Of Yahaya Bello
By Trek Africa Newspaper
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, application for adjournment in a fresh charge against the immediate-past Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, and two others until November 14.
Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who appeared for the EFCC, made the oral application before Justice Maryann Anenih.
The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively in the 16-count charge.
Oyedepo informed the court that at the last adjourned date, the court issued a public summons against the former governor directing that same be published and that the charge be pasted.
Justice Anenih, however, interjected; stating that she did not gave an order that the charge be pasted alongside the summons.
Oyedepo, who admitted, said he had expected the 1st defendant to be in court, even though the 30-day duration of the summons would be on Nov. 14.
The anti-graft lawyer therefore sought for adjournment until Nov. 14 for arraignment of the three defendants.
Joseph Daudu, SAN, who appeared for the 2nd defendant, objected to Oyedepo’s application.
The senior lawyer insisted that the matter was scheduled for arraignment today, and that they were ready to proceed, arguing that the defendants were all independent and should be so treated.
“You cannot be using somebody as a human shield when they are not in hostage. I don’t like this practice,” he said.
He said that if the prosecution was not ready to proceed with the case, the defendants who were already in court, should be discharged.
Mohammed Aliyu, SAN, who represented the 3rd defendant, aligned with Daudu’s submission.
Aliyu said in the alternative, he would be asking the court to take his client’s application for bail.
