Court adjourns money laundering matter as Yahaya Bello heads to Supreme Court

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the alleged money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, until October. 30, 2024.

The adjournment by Justice Emeka Nwite came as ex-Gov. Bello moved to the Supreme Court to file an appeal seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.

The anti-graft agency had filed a 19-count money laundering charge against Bello.

Upon resumed hearing on Wednesday, Bello’s Counsel, A.M. Adoyi, drew the attention of the court to the fact that the issue of the arraignment of the defendant was the subject matter of an appeal already entered by him at the Supreme Court.

He said he would like to draw the court’s attention to the appeal by the affidavit of record filed on Sept. 23.

“The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024.

“That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null or to pull the rug out of the feet of the Supreme Court,” he said.

He said he would have to adjourn to rule on the matter.

Justice Nwite therefore adjourned the matter until Oct. 30 for ruling and arraignment.