OlaOlukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has vowed to see former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello's case through to its natural end.
The anti-graft head threatened to step down as EFCC chairman if Bello is not charged during a Tuesday conversation with media at the EFCC Headquarters in the Jabi neighborhood of Abuja.
He promised to hold those responsible for impeding the former governor's arrest accountable.
The anti-graft head threatened to step down as EFCC chairman if Bello is not charged during a Tuesday conversation with media at the EFCC Headquarters in the Jabi neighborhood of Abuja.
He promised to hold those responsible for impeding the former governor's arrest accountable.
Bello is being charged with 19 counts by the EFCC, which include suspected money laundering, breach of trust, and theft of N80.2 billion in cash.
He declared that he and his team would not give up on assisting in the nation's sanitization, regardless of what is done or how much the anti-graft agency is attacked.
Olukoyede emphasized that if the EFCC fails, Nigeria fails and stated that the agency needs the support of Nigerians to succeed. He claimed that the current initiatives have improved the foreign market and the value of the Naira.
He declared that he and his team would not give up on assisting in the nation's sanitization, regardless of what is done or how much the anti-graft agency is attacked.
Olukoyede emphasized that if the EFCC fails, Nigeria fails and stated that the agency needs the support of Nigerians to succeed. He claimed that the current initiatives have improved the foreign market and the value of the Naira.
Meanwhile, the immediate past governor's attorney, Abdulwahab, has received a copy of the charge sheet from the EFCC alleging fraud over N80 billion.
Mohamed.
In response to Bello's absence from court on Tuesday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order.
During his arraignment on a 19-count charge of allegedly laundering ₦80 billion in money, he did not appear in court.
The judge instructed the attorney for the most recent governor to obtain a copy of the charge based on section 384 (4 and 5) of the Administrative and Criminal Justice Act 2015.
The court decided that alternative methods could be used to serve a defendant with legal papers in cases when it was no longer possible to do so personally.
Judge Nwite went on to say that it was evident the former governor had neglected to show up for his arraignment.
Despite Bello's attorney, Mohammed was forced to acknowledge the accusations and supporting documentation by Justice Nwite after originally refusing to do so.
In response to Bello's absence from court on Tuesday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order.
During his arraignment on a 19-count charge of allegedly laundering ₦80 billion in money, he did not appear in court.
The judge instructed the attorney for the most recent governor to obtain a copy of the charge based on section 384 (4 and 5) of the Administrative and Criminal Justice Act 2015.
The court decided that alternative methods could be used to serve a defendant with legal papers in cases when it was no longer possible to do so personally.
Judge Nwite went on to say that it was evident the former governor had neglected to show up for his arraignment.
Despite Bello's attorney, Mohammed was forced to acknowledge the accusations and supporting documentation by Justice Nwite after originally refusing to do so.
The senior attorney's request that AI Musa, a junior member of his team, take the case on behalf of the former governor was denied by the judge.
Adedayo Adedipe, a member of Bello's legal team, informed the court that although his client would have made himself accessible, he was concerned about not receiving a fair trial and justice.
He continued by saying that Bello was prepared to appear in court and respond to the 19-count accusation that the EFCC had brought against him.
Adedipe pleaded with the court to overturn the ex-parte order of arrest it had previously issued against the former governor, arguing that his client had not yet been charged at the time the order of arrest was imposed.
Bello had maintained that the EFCC was an unlawful entity. He claims that before passing the EFCC Act via the National Assembly, the federal government did not confer with the 36 states of the union.
He continued by saying that the act could not take effect unless the various Houses of Assembly ratified it in accordance with section 12 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
However, Kemi Phinheiro, the EFCC's attorney, asked the court to reject the application, arguing that the arrest warrant shouldn't be revoked until the defendant appears in court.
He maintained that Bello lacked the legal justification to submit multiple applications while concealing.
After receiving an application to issue a bench warrant against Bello, Justice Nwite had last week
However, Kemi Phinheiro, the EFCC's attorney, asked the court to reject the application, arguing that the arrest warrant shouldn't be revoked until the defendant appears in court.
He maintained that Bello lacked the legal justification to submit multiple applications while concealing.
After receiving an application to issue a bench warrant against Bello, Justice Nwite had last week
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