Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to nullify an arrest warrant issued against him.
Represented by his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, Bello argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to issue the warrant.
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Mohammed made the submission before Justice Emeka Nwite during the scheduled arraignment of the ex-governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count money laundering charge.
The court had granted the EFCC’s request for a warrant following Bello’s failure to appear on Wednesday.
Justice Nwite ordered Bello’s appearance on Thursday for plea-taking.
Mohammed informed the court of a pending preliminary objection challenging the arrest warrant.
He also cited a High Court of Kogi’s order from February 9, restraining the EFCC from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello.
The EFCC had appealed this order, with the matter set for hearing.
Mohammed argued that the EFCC’s procurement of the arrest warrant was an attempt to undermine the appellate court’s authority.
However, EFCC’s lawyer, Kehibde Pinhero, SAN, disagreed, asserting that Bello’s arraignment was on the day’s agenda. Pinhero contended that since Mohammed had appeared for Bello, the service of the warrant could proceed in court.
Pinhero emphasized that the warrant was necessary to ensure Bello’s presence in court, as previous attempts to serve him had failed.
The hearing is ongoing as of the time of reporting.
