The former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, once again did not appear for hearing in the alleged N82 billion fraud case brought the Federal High Court in Abuja by EFCC on Wednesday.
Recall that the embattled Governor has been evading appearing in the court to honour summons in the N82 billion alleged fraud charges.
Today, Wednesday, Bello was expected to be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite, but he did not turn up.
However, according to DAILY POST, his two lawyers, Mohammed Aliyu and Adeola Adedipe, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), stood in for him. “They arrived in court in compliance with the court’s order,” DAILY POST.
The two SANs, lawyers answered questions on their undertaking to produce the former Governor in court for arraignment.
Today’s Bello’s non-appearance, makes it the sixth time he has snubbed court summons.
Recall that Bello had at the last adjournment sought the transfer of his trial. He argued that the alleged crime was committed in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The embattled Governor stated that he preferred to be arraigned in Lokoja. He claimed that the court ordinarily has territorial jurisdiction and where the alleged offense was committed.
However, his request, which was routed through a letter to the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, was turned down. He was directed to make the request in open court as required by law.
DAILY POST stated that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed the court to witness the proceedings.
The media department of the EFCC led by the Head of the media department, Dele Oyewale, was also present.
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