Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned till November 27, 2024, the arraignment of the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
He is facing trial in the fresh 16 charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Bello, and two others – Shuabu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are facing prosecution bordering on criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy to commit an offence to the tune of N110.4bn.
EFCC counsel, Jamiu Agoro, at the resumed hearing, asked the court for an adjournment to enable Bello to be present in court for his arraignment, since the order of the court given on October 3 had not elapsed.
According to the prosecution, the 30-day window issued by the court was still running for the summons earlier issued.
Recall that the court had issued a public summon for Bello to appear before it to answer the 16 new charges pending against him.
Justice Anenih issued the summons after the EFCC filed an application claiming inability to serve Bello with the charge filed on September 24.
Justice Anenih, in a ruling, ordered the EFCC to publish the public summons in a widely circulating newspaper.
She also ordered the EFCC to paste copies of the public summons on Bello’s last known address and in conspicuous places on the court premises.
While Agoro prayed to the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear in court for his scheduled arraignment, he also craved the indulgence of the court to grant an order to paste a hearing notice at his residence.
Agoro said “I will humbly pray to your lordship for the extension of time for the first defendant who is supposed to appear before your lordship to be in court.
“We feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while the 30 days is still running.
“My Lord, I also want to pray that in the event that your lordship is magnanimous to grant this request the court approves the same to paste a hearing order at the last known address of the first defendant.
“The last known address of the first defendant is No 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4. My Lord, that is our humble application.”
Meanwhile, Bello’s co-defendants (Oricha and Hudu) were granted administrative bail by the anti-graft agency.
Counsel for the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki (SAN), who confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution, said he had no objection to the application for adjournment.
The third defendant’s counsel, Z. E. Abass, was in compliance with Saiki’s submission.
They also prayed the court to continue to allow their clients to enjoy the administrative bail granted them.
The prosecution counsel afterwards, prayed the court for an adjournment.
He informed the court that a discussion had been had with the defence team and they had agreed to come back on the 27th day of November 2024.
He also said the 20th of November date earlier given was not convenient for him.
After listening to all the parties, the judge granted EFCC’s application for adjournment.
She also granted the request to paste the hearing notice at his residence.
The trial judge adjourned the case to November 27 for arraignment.
She said “I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted.”