The Federal High Court in Abuja was abuzz as former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, failed to appear on Wednesday for his arraignment on N82 billion fraud charges.
Despite a court summons, Bello was nowhere to be found, leaving his lawyers, Mohammed Aliyu and Adeola Adedipe (both SANs), to face the music.
The two senior lawyers had undertaken to produce Bello in court, and their presence was a testament to their commitment to this undertaking. However, they were expected to answer questions on their failure to deliver Bello for arraignment.
This marks the sixth time Bello has snubbed court summons, and his lawyers had earlier requested that the trial be transferred to Lokoja, citing territorial jurisdiction. However, this request was rejected, and Bello was directed to make the request in open court.
Operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were present in court, alongside a team from the EFCC’s media department, led by Dele Oyewale. The absence of Bello has raised questions about his willingness to face trial, and the court’s next move is eagerly anticipated.
As the drama unfolds, one thing is clear: the law will take its course, and justice will be served. The question is, will Bello finally face the music, or will he continue to evade the law? Only time will tell.
