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Tag: JUSTICE EMEKA NWITE

  • EFCC To Arraign Yahaya Bello Again Today

    EFCC To Arraign Yahaya Bello Again Today

    The troubles may just be starting for former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who is about to face another round of legal troubles as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is arraigning him on allegations of mismanaging N80.2 billion in public funds.

     The proceedings will take place today at the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite.  

    The case follows months of evasion by Bello, who was previously ordered to be arrested after missing court appearances.

     Earlier in April, Justice Nwite had issued an arrest warrant, but efforts to detain Bello were allegedly obstructed by Kogi’s current governor, Ahmed Ododo. 

    Reports revealed that Ododo used his official vehicle to shield Bello from EFCC operatives.  

    After months of avoiding legal proceedings, Bello voluntarily turned himself in to the EFCC last Tuesday.

     This led to his appearance before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, where he pleaded not guilty and was subsequently remanded in EFCC custody.  

    Initially scheduled for January 21, 2025, the case was fast-tracked by the anti-corruption agency, ensuring that Bello and his co-accused, including his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, appear in court today. 

    The charges they face span money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, and breach of trust.  

  • Court Orders INEC To Recognize Julius Abure As Labour Party Chairman

    Court Orders INEC To Recognize Julius Abure As Labour Party Chairman

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially recognized Julius Abure as the legitimate Chairman of the Labour Party.

     This decision, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, reinforces the leadership structure established during the party’s national convention in Nnewi in March 2024.

     The court’s directive mandates that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accept Abure’s chairmanship, contradicting its previous assertion that his leadership lacked legal validity. 

    INEC had contended that the Labour Party’s convention breached the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, claiming that proper legal protocols were not followed. 

    The current decision of the court however, further conflicts the relationship between Mr. Abure and His Excellency Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 national election.

    Further developments are anticipated.

  • Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s case to Oct 30 as he heads to Supreme Court

    On Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja adjourned the alleged money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to October. 30.

    This follows Bello’s appeal at the Supreme Court seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.

    At the proceedings, Wednesday, Counsel to Bello, A.M. Adoyi, drew the court’s attention to the fact that the issue of arraignment of the defendant was the subject matter of an appeal already entered by him at the Supreme Court.

    He said he would like to draw the court’s attention to the appeal by virtue of the affidavit of record filed on September 23.

    “The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null or to pull the rug out of the feet of the Supreme Court,” the Defendant’s lawyer said.

    Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, however, told the court that the Defendant’s Counsel were turning the court into a place for entertainment.

    He said, “Secondly, an appeal the defendant filed at the court of appeal disputing the mode of service of the charge and proof of evidence on their counsel was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on the 28th of August this year.

    “The Court of Appeal said the mode of service was good and proper service. The appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself. But they took another step.”

    It will be recalled that the former governor submitted himself to the EFCC last Wednesday, accompanied by the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, but the EFCC reportedly refused to interrogate or detain him.

    It was later reported that EFCC operatives allegedly laid siege on the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja to arrest the Governor at night.

    Responding, Pinheiro said, “They have three applications on this – two before your lordship and one before the Supreme Court. I will now urge your lordship to demonstrate audacity of coercive power on him.”

    Adoyi, Bello’s lawyer, however, argued that the life issue of the matter slated for today (Wednesday), which is the arraignment, “is subject to an appeal by the defendant at the Supreme Court.

    “In the interest of justice, we should await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue.”

    Reacting, Justice Nwite said, with the submission made by the counsel, he would have to decide the issues raised in one way or the other.

    Therefore, he adjourned the matter to 30th of October for ruling and arraignment