The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the charges on alleged N80 billion fraud filed by the Federal Government against former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, be served through his counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed.
The trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday while delivering a ruling in an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for substituted service on Bello.
The Court session was for the ruling on application for substituted service and possible arraignment of Yahaya Ballo.
Counsel for Yahaya Bello, Abdulwahab Mohammed had told the Court that the defendants were still not properly served.
A plea by the senior lawyer that a junior counsel in his team, AI Musa should accept the charges on behalf of the accused former Governor was rejected by the trial Judge.
To effect proper service, Justice Nwite ordered that the Defendant’s lead Counsel himself be served and also sign for it in the open Court.
Two application were also moved by the defence counsel, one seeking the Court to vacate the warrant of arrest on Bello and the other, on jurisdiction of the Court to hear the suit.
But, Counsel for the EFCC , Kemi Pinheiro insisted that the Court should not entertain further application from the Defendant until he presents himself in Court to take his plea.
The Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite had previously issued a bench warrant against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello following an application to that effect by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency had subsequently declared the ex-Governor wanted for his persistent absence in Court and evading of service of the criminal charges on him.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
