The former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has apologized to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court over the saga that surrounded his arraignment over alleged N80bn fraud.
TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports that Bello, was originally due to be arraigned on April 18, failed to appear in court and challenged his trial on grounds of jurisdiction.
Despite an arrest warrant by Justice Nwite, attempts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest the former governor proved abortive despite an arrest warrant by Justice Nwite.
Bello failed to appear in court for six consecutive sittings and eventually took his jurisdictional case up to the Supreme Court.
Similarly, Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, issued a public summon on Bello, ordering him to appear for arraignment.
It was not until November 26 when he eventually submitted himself to the EFCC and was arraigned on November 27 before Justice Anenih over N110bn money laundering allegations and then today (Friday), before Justice Nwite, on allegations of fraud to the tune of N80.2bn.
However, addressing the court on Friday, Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, claimed that Bello’s actions were to defend himself in the best way possible and not disrespect the court.
“I want to apologise for any impression that the defendant did not wish to appear before your lordship. Coincidentally, the ruling read by my lord earlier today dealt with the issue of jurisdiction and we know it could go any way.
“What he did, which is not so good, was to direct his counsel to challenge the jurisdiction of the court and that challenge took them up to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
“It was not a wishful disrespect, it was in a belief he was trying to defend himself in the best way. We all hold your lordship in the highest esteem. It is an episode that could have been avoided, but it went on,” he said.
Moving his bail application, Daudu said “The defendant has been a two-term governor who travelled only twice throughout his tenure, I can give assurance that all things being equal, he will be present in court for trial and will not jump bail.”
He further told the court that he has been in discussion with the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on how to ease the hearing process and assuring him that his client will always be available for trial.
Responding, Pinheiro confirmed the conversations saying that they accept the assurances of the defence counsel, subject to the convenience of the court.
Justice Nwite therefore stood down the hearing to rule on the bail application.