EFCC Offers to Cancel Warrant If Bello Attends Court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stated that the arrest warrant issued against Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, might be revoked if he appears in court as required. Kemi Pinheiro, the EFCC counsel, expressed this during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Pinheiro assured that if Bello appears in court on the next adjourned date or provides an undertaking to do so, he would personally request the set aside of the arrest warrant.

Bello was absent for his court arraignment once again, facing a 19-count charge involving money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds totaling N80.2 billion. Adeola Adedipe, a member of Bello’s legal team, requested the court to revoke the ex parte order of arrest issued against Bello the previous week.

Justice Emeka Nwite had issued the warrant of arrest against Yahaya Bello last week Wednesday. Adedipe argued that the arrest order was premature as the charge had not been properly served to Bello at the time.

Pinheiro, however, urged the court to reject Adedipe’s application unless Bello presents himself for trial. He contended that Bello’s continued absence and filing of multiple applications to vacate the arrest warrant were  tactics to buy time. Pinheiro emphasized that Bello should not be granted the right to be heard until he is physically present in court.

Pinheiro further cited section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, stating that the court cannot effectively assume jurisdiction to decide any application or objection until the defendant is arraigned.