The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on Thursday scrapped its earlier request to change the date of arraignment for the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, from June 13 to June 27. This move was made without informing the defendant’s lawyers and the new date, June 27, was fixed for hearing at the insistence of the anti-graft agency’s lawyers.
During the resumed hearing on Thursday, Adeola Adedipe, (SAN), the counsel to Yahaya Bello had told the court that the EFCC lawyers approached Aliyu Abdul Wahab, (SAN), the counsel for the defendant, and told him that the June 13 date would not be suitable for them to proceed and that Wahab had to consent by way of convenience for another date to be set.
If not for the EFCC’s interference and decision to seek an adjournment to a future date for his arraignment, Bello would have appeared in court today, Thursday June 13.
What They’re Saying
In Adepide’s words:
“They (EFCC) agreed that junior counsel would be sent to court today to formally pick a date. And the registry can confirm this,” Adedipe said.“Kemi Pinhero, SAN, (and lead counsel) has been calling us to say today is not convenient,” he added. Kemi Pinhero is the lead counsel.
“Under 266 ACJA there are instances when defendants don’t need to come and this is one of them.
“We came here to pick a date. Of what use will the defendant coming here be? It is the prosecuting counsel that approached us, we did not approach them. We have nothing to hide.” Adedipe had concluded.
