“EFCC RESCHEDULES YAHAYA BELLO’S ARRAIGNMENT: NEW DATE ANNOUNCED!”

Babatunji Wusu –

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rescheduled the arraignment of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for June 27 in connection to an alleged money laundering case.

According to reports from Daily Post, the anti-graft agency fixed this new date for the hearing without prior notification to the defendant’s lawyers. During the hearing on Thursday, Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that the EFCC lawyers had approached Aliyu AbdulWahab, SAN, representing the defendant, indicating that the earlier date of June 13 would not be feasible for them. As a result, a new date was agreed upon.

Adedipe expressed surprise at the presence of EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, in court, stating that it was agreed that junior counsel would be present to formally select a date. He noted that the lead counsel, Kemi Pinhero, SAN, had been in contact to convey that Thursday’s date was not suitable.

Despite Bello’s readiness to appear in court on Thursday, Adedipe emphasized that under section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), defendants do not always need to be physically present. He clarified, “We came here to pick a date. What purpose would the defendant’s presence serve? It was the prosecuting counsel who approached us, not the other way around. We have nothing to conceal.”