ⓒ The Guardian Nigeria
Kogi State’s former governor, Yahaya Bello, will not be arraigned without legal representation. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned the arraignment after Bello’s lawyer was absent from court proceedings on Friday. The absence was due to late notification of the arraignment. Bello is facing serious charges of money laundering and fraud, totaling a staggering N194.4 billion. The EFCC, despite arguing that the defendant’s presence was sufficient, had their request denied by Justice Nwite, who emphasized Bello’s right to a fair trial. The case has been rescheduled for December 13th, with Bello remaining in EFCC custody until then. Notices will be formally served to Bello’s legal team.
