Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, 13 June adjourned the arraignment of former Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to June 27. The adjournment was a sequel to the absence of the lead lawyer to EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. Following assurance that the defendant would be in court to take his plea, the court had last month adjourned to June 13, for arraignment.
However, when the matter was called one of the senior lawyers in the former governor’s team, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that Pinheiro had earlier informed the defence team that Thursday’s proceedings would not be convenient.
Adedipe, who was in court for another matter, however, expressed surprise to see another EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN in court after an agreement between the two parties that junior lawyers would be sent to pick a new date, at the instance of the EFCC lead counsel, Kemi Pinhero.
He said it seemed there was misalignment between the anti-graft’s lead counsel, Pinhero and Oyedepo. He insisted that it was at Pinhero’s behest that the matter be adjourned until June 27 for arraignment.
Adedipe noted that were it not for EFCC sought adjournment, the ex-governor was ready to appear in court. Justice Nwite adjourned till June 27, as agreed by the lawyers and upon an undertaking that the defendant would appear on the next adjourned date for his arraignment.
