The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request made by former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to lift the arrest warrant issued against him by the court.
The court criticized Bello, accusing him of trying to obstruct the criminal case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
In a ruling delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday, the court reiterated its earlier order from April 17, directing security agencies to arrest and bring Bello before it to respond to the 19-count charge filed against him.
The court stated that the former governor’s decision to engage lawyers to challenge its jurisdiction to try him, while he was in hiding, demonstrated that he “has no respect or regard for the court.”
It held that Bello’s decision to file the application “is clearly showing his intention not to present himself for trial,” stressing that he ought to have made himself available upon becoming aware of the order of arrest that was issued against him.
“The law is settled that he who disobeyed an order of court and shown disrespect to the court cannot expect a favourable discretion of the court.
“The honourable thing the defendant would have done was to obey the order of court by making himself available.
“Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, mandates all persons and authority to give effect to orders of court.
“He has wilfully disobeyed the order of this court. An order of court of competent jurisdiction, no matter how it was obtained, subsists until it is set aside.
“A party who refuse to obey an order of court after becoming aware of it, is in contempt of court.
“He is not entitled to be heard or granted a favourable discretion. The refusal of the defendant to make himself available is solely to truncate the arraignment and prevent the court from proceeding further in this case.
“Refusal of the defendant to make himself available in an attempt to truncate this court and make it practically impossible for the court to assume jurisdiction in this criminal trial.
“He ought to make himself available. He cannot sit in the comfort of his home to file applications before this court.
“The defendant has no atom or regard for the court. Clearly, the defendant is taking this court for granted.”
Justice Nwite held that Bello’s decision to treat the order of the court with levity, was previously condemned by the Supreme Court.
“In view of the forgoing analysis, I am of the view and I so hold, that no application can be moved or heard unless the defendant is present before the court to take his plea,” the trial judge held.
Bello, who governed Kogi State for eight years, is facing charges related to his alleged involvement in money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds, amounting to approximately N80.2 billion.
