The hearing in the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has been postponed until January 21, 2025, by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
AFRIPOST reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is bringing the case, which focuses on claims of financial mismanagement under Bello.
EFCC Counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told Justice Emeka Nwite that he had two witnesses ready to testify during the reopened hearing on Wednesday.
Despite Yahaya Bello’s absence from the court proceedings, Pinheiro also asked the court to submit a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
Both parties will have more time to be ready as a result of the delay, and the EFCC is anticipated to continue with witness testimony at the subsequent session.
“My first application is to formally enter a plea of not guilty to the defendant, even in his absence. The second point is that, notwithstanding his physical absence, it is in full compliance with Section 276 of ACJA.
“Flowing from that entry my lord, it is a humble request that we call the first witness,” he stated.
Pinheiro, SAN, in defending his application to enter a plea of not guilty for the defendant, said, “The right to plead guilty or not guilty is a right that can be waived by the defendant.
“My lord should hold that the defendant has waived that right.
“What prejudice will the defendant suffer if my lord enters a plea of guilty or not guilty in his absence? Even if he was in court and pleaded not guilty, the situation would still be the same. The entry of a plea of not guilty by your lordship is an invitation to the prosecution to come and prove the veracity of the allegations,” he added.
However, Michael Adoyi, who represented the defendant, objected, claiming that the prosecution’s motion was submitted in violation of an existing court order.
However, Michael Adoyi, who represented the defendant, objected, claiming that the prosecution’s motion was submitted in violation of an existing court order.
“Our first point of response to the application made by the learned senior counsel to the complainant is that the application is made contrary to the subsisting order of this honourable court, even made this morning – that no application can be entertained by this court in the absence of the arraignment of the defendant.
“The prosecution has stated severally that the court cannot demonstrate helplessness. The court cannot demonstrate any helplessness in any proceeding and if at all helplessness exists in this proceeding, that helplessness is demonstrated by the prosecution,” he said.