The Reason Yahaya Bello Didn't Appear in Court Following an application by the EFCC,

Attorney Justice Nwite issued a bench warrant against Bello last week.

Adedayo Adedipe, a member of Yahaha Bello's legal team, informed Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja that although his client would have appeared in court, he was frightened of not receiving justice and a fair trial.

After his client failed to appear in court for his arraignment on Tuesday, Adedipe informed the court of Bello's message. At his arraignment on a 19-count allegation of suspected ₦84 billion money laundering, he did not appear in court.

After he left, Justice Nwite gave the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the order to serve his attorney, Abdulwahab Mohamed, with a copy of the charge against him.

The judge cited the Administrative and Criminal Justice Code's § 384 (4 and 5). a copy of the charges filed against him against Abdulwahab Mohamed, his attorney.

Invoking section 384 (4 and 5) of the Administrative and Criminal Justice Act 2015, the judge ordered the attorney to forward a copy of the charge to the governor-elect.

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.

Bello's attorney, Mohammed, was forced to accept the allegations and supporting documentation by Justice Nwite, despite his initial refusal.

Judge dismissed senior attorney's request that a AI Musa, a young attorney on his team, should take up the case on the former governor's behalf.

Adedipe, however, argued in defense that Bello was prepared to appear in court and address the 19-count charge that the EFCC had brought against him, even if he was absent out of concern for not receiving a fair trial.

Bello had previously maintained that the EFCC was an unlawful group. 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.

The senior attorney continued, saying that the purpose of the applications he was submitting was to postpone his arraignment because finding him was the primary concern.

He continues by saying Bello needs to appear in court and file an application if he wants the order rescinding his arrest.

The charge sheet for Bello's alleged N84 billion fraud was then served to his attorney by Judge Nwite.

The EFCC further stated that it would not carry out the arrest order until Bello's attorney committed to guaranteeing his attendance at the upcoming postponed date.

Following an application by the EFCC, Justice Nwite issued a bench warrant against Bello last week.

The former governor was subsequently proclaimed wanted by the EFCC due to his continual nonattendance in court as well as for dodging the accusations made against him.