In the absence of his lawyers, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Friday, declined to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to arraign the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Bello was scheduled to enter his plea before trial Justice Emeka Nwite, on another 19-count charge that bordered on his alleged complicity in an N80.2 billion fraud.
When the matter was called up, none of the lawyers representing the former governor, was in court.
Notwithstanding the development, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to allow the defendant who had already mounted the dock, to take his plea.
Placing reliance on provisions of sections 271, 277 and 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the prosecution lawyer argued that what the law required for the arraignment to take place, was the physical presence of the defendant and not his counsel.
When he was asked why his lawyers were not around, Bello, told the court that he only got to know about the proceeding, around 11pm on Thursday
