Following the absence of former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello from arraignment in the alleged money laundering case against him, the prosecuting agency has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to issue sanctions against the defence team.
Bello, who was expected to appear in court in connection with 19-count charges bordering on money laundering valued at N82 billion, was absent despite recent photos he published showing his visit to the headquarters of the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) requested the court presided by Justice Emeka Nwite to hold defence lawyers Adoyi and Adewale responsible for contempt and professional misconduct and refer them to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee for sanction.
The lead prosecuting counsel said the lawyers have “demonstrated audacity of irresponsibility” and must be met with the “audacity of the coercive powers” of the court to show that “the court is not a place for irresponsibility or entertainment.”
Pinheiro said Bello’s lawyers have filed appeals at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court trying to delay his arraignment, adding that they failed to make applications for stay of arraignment in all their processes.
He contended that the court’s orders so far had directed Bello to appear in person before the Court for the matter and not to visit the EFCC car park.
“He went to the EFCC car park holding the hands of a person with immunity (incumbent Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State) who came with the full complements of the paraphernalia of his office as if there would be a joint arraignment,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “If there was an attempt to extricate him, that would have been an invitation to anarchy.”
Replying, the defence lawyers said the application made by the prosecution was too hasty as the motion filed before the Court was yet to be moved.