Yahaya Bello in fresh move to stop trial in N82bn alleged fraud charges

Former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Adoza Bello has ignited a fresh move to suspend his planned arraignment before the Federal High Court in Abuja on the alleged N82bn fraud charges.

Bello through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN on Wednesday moved an application asking the federal high court to stay proceedings.

His ground was that he had filed two notices of appeals at the Court of Appeal in Abuja challenging the jurisdiction of the court in Abuja to determine the criminal charges against him.

Bello said that his appeals have been entered and that the record of proceedings of the high court had been transmitted to the appellate court.

He also asked the court to expunge the proceedings of June 27 from the court records on the ground that his appeals have been entered at the time of the proceedings.

Bello therefore asked Justice Emeka Nwite to stay out of his trial until the Court of Appeal decides his appeal on jurisdiction.

However, the federal government through his counsel, Kemi Pinheiro SAN vehemently opposed the request to suspend the trial on the ground that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act did not support the request.

Pinheiro SAN cited sections 306 of ACJA and 40 of EFCC Act to support his objections for the request for stay of proceedings to be granted.

The senior lawyer faulted the authority cited by Bello adding that the authority only support civil matters and not a criminal matters as in the instant case.

Justice Emeka Nwite is expected to deliver ruling in the application.