Federal High Court Directs Substituted Service of N80 Billion Fraud Charges on Yahaya Bello via His Attorney, Abdulwahab Mohammed

“Federal High Court Orders Substituted Service of N80 Billion Fraud Charges on Yahaya Bello via Legal Representative, Abdulwahab Mohammed

In a recent ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja mandated that the allegations of N80 billion fraud leveled against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, by the Federal Government, should be served through his attorney, Abdulwahab Mohammed.

This directive was issued on Tuesday during the court’s deliberation on an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking substituted service on Bello. Lead counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, presented the application.

Initially hesitant, Bello’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, was compelled by Justice Nwite to accept the charges and proof of evidence. Despite attempts by the defense to nominate a junior lawyer, AI Musa, to accept the charges on Bello’s behalf, the Judge rejected this plea.

During the proceedings, Yahaya Bello was absent from court, once again represented solely by his legal counsel.

Previously, Justice Nwite had issued a bench warrant against Bello at the behest of the EFCC, citing his repeated failure to appear in court and face the criminal charges against him. Consequently, the EFCC has declared the former governor wanted, citing evasion of the legal proceedings.”