Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the charges alleging an N80 billion fraud against former Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, be served through his legal representative, Abdulwahab Mohammed.
The Judge made this decision on Tuesday during a ruling on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for substituted service on Bello. Lead counsel for the anti-graft agency, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, presented the application.
Initially, Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, declined to accept the charges and proof of evidence. However, Justice Nwite compelled him to do so. Despite Mohammed’s request for a junior lawyer in his team, AI Musa, to accept the charges on behalf of the former governor, the Judge rejected the plea.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Yahaya Bello was once again absent from court but was represented by his lawyer.
Last week, Justice Nwite issued a bench warrant against Bello following an application by the EFCC. The EFCC had declared the former governor wanted due to his persistent absence in court and evasion of the criminal charges against him.
