Yahaya Bello’s lawyer wants to quit the case.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeola Adedipe, applied on Thursday, June 27, to the Federal High Court in Abuja to withdraw from representing former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Bello faces a 19-count charge related to alleged involvement in money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds totaling about N80.2 billion.
Due to Bello’s absence during his scheduled arraignment, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) urged the trial judge to sanction his lawyers for failing to ensure his availability for trial as promised.
EFCC’s lead counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinhero, SAN, requested the court to penalize the two senior lawyers representing Bello, arguing they violated professional conduct rules.
Pinhero stated that according to Order 31(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for legal practitioners, failure to uphold an undertaking made before a court constitutes contempt and misconduct.
Pinhero said: “Your honor, we request that since one of the lawyers is present in court, he should be immediately sanctioned as per the law. We urge the court to uphold disciplinary measures to maintain judiciary integrity.”
Responding, Adedipe, SAN, clarified that he was not the lead counsel for Bello and denied making any commitment to secure his presence at trial.
He argued that the EFCC itself disrespected the court by not executing the arrest warrant for Bello and that his team had informed the court of their lack of knowledge regarding the former governor’s whereabouts.
In light of these developments, Adedipe, SAN, invoked section 349(8) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, to withdraw from representing the defendant.
However, the EFCC opposed Adedipe’s withdrawal, arguing it was untimely and should not be allowed by the court. The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, has yet to make a ruling on the matter.