The immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others, on Wednesday, pleaded not responsible to the 16-count prices introduced towards them by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC).
Bello, who’s the first defendant, vehemently denied the allegations earlier than Justice Maryann Anenih as they had been reeled out by the Court docket Registrar.
After taking their plea, the Defendants’ Counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, moved an utility for bail. However the EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed the applying, saying it had expired in October.
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Making clarifications, the Defendants’ Counsel clarified saying that the one related utility earlier than the Court docket was the movement for bail in respect of the primary defendant, which was filed on November 22.
Counting on all of the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail utility was additionally supported with a written handle.
“Exhibit A, which is the general public summons could be very important and the looks of the defendant in Court docket at present, reveals he has respect for the legislation,” he mentioned.
The EFCC had moved for trial to begin instantly and was able to name its first witness.
However, Bello’s Counsel argued that the Defence staff was served with the cost at 11pm on November 26 and that he would want time to organize his consumer.
On the bail utility, Daudu SAN mentioned the legislation within the nation says a defendant is harmless till confirmed responsible.
“It’s inside his rights to get pleasure from his liberty whereas making ready for trial,” he mentioned.
“The prosecution’s objection is predicated on the truth that he’s going through prices on the Federal Excessive Court docket and has refused to seem to take his plea.
“The courtroom shouldn’t use points from one other courtroom to find out points earlier than the FCT Excessive c
Court docket,” he famous.
Stating some paragraphs within the counter affidavit, he mentioned the prosecution raised points that needed to do with a matter on the Federal Excessive Court docket.
“When the jurisdiction of the Court docket is challenged, the defendant want to not seem till the problems arising from the jurisdiction are resolved,” he famous.
Objecting to the submissions of Mr. Bello, counsel to EFCC held that his preliminary objection was anchored on three grounds – competence of the applying; factual content material of the applying; and utility of judicial ideas and steerage.
Recall that Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu had earlier been admitted to administrative bail by the EFCC whereas the previous governor appeared earlier than the courtroom for the primary time on Wednesday.
