For former Kogi governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, when it rains, it really pours on him… and those around him.
Last week, his doting successor, Usman Ododo, ran into trouble with the Federal Government for aiding and abetting Bello’s escape in the middle of Abuja from federal agents who wanted to effect his arrest.
This Tuesday, it is the turn of his lawyer. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that the charges on alleged N80 billion fraud filed by the Federal Government be served through his reluctant lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed.
The Judge issued the order while delivering a ruling in an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for substituted service on Bello.
Lead counsel to the anti-graft agency, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued the application.
Although Bello’s lawyer Abdulwahab Mohammed initially declined to accept the charges and proof of evidence, he was compelled to do so by Justice Nwite.
The Judge rejected the plea by the senior lawyer that a junior lawyer in his team, AI Musa be the one to accept the charges on behalf of the former governor.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, Yahaya Bello was again not in court but represented by his lawyer.
Justice Nwite had last week issued a bench warrant against Bello following an application to that effect by EFCC.
The EFCC subsequently declared the former governor wanted for his persistent absence in court and evading the criminal charges on him.
Meanwhile, Bello’s lawyers are presently arguing application for vacation of the arrest warrant issued against him for his arrest by the court.
If granted, the former governor can on his own honour court summons without arrest or involvement of EFCC or any other security agencies.