The Federal High Court on Thursday adjourned arraignment of the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on an alleged money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to June 27, following an agreement by the counsels of the two parties.
The adjournment followed the request by the anti-graft agency that today would not be convenient for them, reaching an agreement with the defendant’s lawyers for the new date.
Counsel to Bello, Adeola Adedipe SAN disclosed that baring the last minute change, the former Governor was ready to appear in court.
“They (EFCC) agreed that junior counsels would be sent to court today to formally pick a date. And the registry can confirm this.
“EFCC lead counsel, Kemi Pinhero, SAN, has been calling us to say today is not convenient.
“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 noted.
Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the case to June 27 after an undertaking that the defendant would appear on that day.
