*As court rules on substituted service
Counsel to the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, has begged the Federal High Court in Abuja to vacate the arrest warrant issued on the embattled former governor.
Making the plea during the proceedings, Mohammed told the court that a High Court of Kogi State had on February 9, 2024, restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting, detaining or prosecuting Bello.
The ruling, according to him, was on fundamental rights suit filed by the former governor and that the EFCC was a party in the matter.
Although Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned till April 23 for ruling on the application, the anti-graft agency sought a substituted service of the charge on Bello.
Justice Nwite fixed the date after counsel to EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and the ex-governor’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, presented their arguments for and against the oral application.
When the matter was called for the arraignment of Bello on a 19-count money laundering charge preferred against him, the former governor was not in court.
However, his team of lawyers, including Adeola Adedipe, SAN, was in court.
Mohammed at the proceedings challenged the validity of the charge on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter on the one hand and to have issued the arrest warrant against his client on the other hand.
He informed the court that a preliminary objection had already been filed before the court to the effect.
The lawyer further urged the court to vacate the arrest warrant order, saying a High Court of Kogi had restrained the anti-graft agency from arresting, detaining or prosecuting Bello.
