A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) request for an adjournment in the case against Yahaya Bello, the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State. Bello, alongside two others—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—is facing a 16-count charge related to corruption.
On Thursday, Rotimi Oyedepo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), representing the EFCC, sought an adjournment until November 14. He cited the need for more time to serve the court’s public summons on the defendants, particularly Yahaya Bello.
During the session, Justice Maryann Anenih interjected when Oyedepo mentioned that the court had ordered the charges be posted alongside the summons. The judge clarified that she had only instructed the publication of the summons, not the charges.
The EFCC’s lawyer argued that the 30-day summons period would not expire until November 14 and asked for the arraignment to be rescheduled for that date. However, Joseph Daudu, SAN, representing the 2nd defendant, opposed the delay, urging the court to proceed with the arraignment. He argued that the defendants were independent and should not be held back by Yahaya Bello’s absence.
Daudu also asked that if the prosecution was unprepared, the present defendants should be discharged or granted bail. However, Oyedepo countered, insisting that bail could not be granted before the arraignment due to conspiracy charges in the case.
Justice Anenih rejected the oral bail application, advising the defendants to submit formal, written requests. The case was adjourned to November 14 for Yahaya Bello’s response to the summons and possible arraignment, with additional hearings set for November 20.