EFCC Seeks Sanctions Against Yahaya Bello’s Lawyers Over Absence in Court Amid ₦82 Billion Money Laundering Case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called on the Federal High Court in Abuja to impose sanctions on the defence counsel of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, after he failed to appear at a scheduled hearing on Wednesday.

Bello is facing 19-count charges related to money laundering, involving a sum of ₦82 billion. Despite being expected in court, he was absent, though recent photos showed him visiting the EFCC headquarters.

At the resumed hearing, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) urged Justice Emeka Nwite to hold defence lawyers, Adoyi and Adewale, accountable for contempt and professional misconduct. Pinheiro requested that the court refer the lawyers to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee for sanctions.

Pinheiro criticized the defence, stating that the lawyers had displayed an “audacity of irresponsibility” and called on the court to exercise its coercive powers to reinforce that the court is not a platform for frivolity.

The prosecuting counsel accused Bello’s legal team of delaying the case through appeals filed at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, without seeking a stay of arraignment in their processes.

He further argued that the court’s previous orders required Bello’s personal appearance and criticized his recent visit to the EFCC as mere theatrics, accompanied by the current Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo.

In response, the defence argued that the prosecution’s application for sanctions was premature, as the motion had yet to be formally moved.