Court Declines To Vacate Arrest Order On Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the request by former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello for vacation of the arrest warrant issued against him by the court.

The Judge said the former governor, having been in contempt of court by his refusal to make himself available for arraignment in a criminal charge, was not entitled to be granted any discretion or favour.

Delivering ruling on Friday in Bello’s application
for the discharge of the warrant of arrest, the court held that Bello was taking the court for granted by his continued refusal to make himself available for arraignment in the court.

While dismissing the request for lack of merit, the court said that Bello cannot be in the comfort of his room and be dictating to a court of law where he is to be arraigned.

The Judge also dismissed the former Governor’s claim that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the criminal charges against him.

Justice Nwite held that Bello must make himself available for arraignment first and his plea taken before he can proceed to make any application or request.

Bello on April 23 argued that the arrest warrant against him had become unnecessary since his lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, accepted the service of the criminal charges on his behalf in respect of the alleged N80 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

More details to follow.