A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, June 13, adjourned the arraignment of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, until June 27.
Presiding judge Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), told the court that the EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinhero (SAN), earlier informed the defence team that today’s proceeding would not be convenient.
When the matter was called, Adedipe, who was in court for another matter, expressed surprise that Oyedepo was in court after an agreement between the two parties that junior lawyers would be sent to pick a new date, at the instance of Pinhero.
He said it seemed there was a misalignment between the EFCC’s lawyer and Oyedepo.
Adedipe said Pinhero approached the defence lead lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), in his office, through a junior lawyer who also appeared in court alongside Oyedepo, that today’s hearing would not be convenient for them to proceed.
The lawyer insisted that it was at Pehinro’s behest that the matter be adjourned until June 27 for arraignment.
He added that for the decision of the EFCC to seek an adjournment to a future date for his arraignment, Bello was ready to appear in court today.
Adedipe said: “Under 266 of ACJA, there are instances when defendants don’t need to come and this is one of them.
“We came here to pick a date. Of what use will the defendant coming here be? It is the prosecuting counsel that approached us, we did not approach them. We have nothing to hide.”
Oyedepo, however, disagreed with Adedipe, saying he was not aware of any meeting that happened between their lead counsel and the defence.
Justice Nwite, thereafter, adjourned the case to June 27 on agreement of counsel after an undertaking that Bello would appear on the next adjourned day.
