On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asked the court for more time regarding a new case against Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, and two other people. The hearing is now scheduled for November 14, 2024.
Rotimi Oyedepo, a lawyer for the EFCC, explained to the judge at the Federal Capital Territory High Court that last time, the court had ordered that a Public Summons be published. “I expected the 1st defendant to be in court on November 14,” he said, mentioning the 30-day period for the summons.
However, Justice Maryann Anenih interrupted, saying she hadn’t asked for the charge to be posted, just the summons.
Joseph Daudu, another lawyer representing the second defendant, disagreed with the EFCC’s request. “You cannot be using somebody as a human shield when they are not in hostage. I don’t like this practice,” he said, noting that the defendants should be treated as independent.
A.M. Aliyu, the lawyer for the third defendant, agreed and added that he wanted the court to consider a bail application for his client. The second defendant is Umar Oricha, and the third is Abdulsalami Hudu.
Oyedepo responded that they couldn’t discuss bail yet because the charges involved all three defendants together. “There are counts of conspiracy in it,” he explained.
He insisted that the court should postpone the hearing until November 14, mentioning there was a request to protect the rights of the second defendant. Daudu, however, argued that this approach was unfair. “It is an affront to fair hearing,” he said, explaining that the defendants had previously been released under certain conditions and could handle being out during this process.
Although the judge did not accept the bail request during the session, she advised that the defendants should formally submit their applications in writing. She then scheduled the next court dates for November 14 and November 20, 2024, for the first defendant’s response to the summons and possible arraignment.
