Justice Marryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday extended the time for the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to appear in court in response to the public summons issues by the court on October 3 to November 27.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed fresh 16-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/778/24, against Bello, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu before the court, alleging criminal breach of trust in respect of the sum of N110,446,470,089, among other allegations.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Jamiu Agoro, who appeared for the prosecution, informed the court that the EFCC had granted administrative bail to the second and third defendants.
He added that the prosecution complied with its October 3 directive to publish the public summons it issued against the former governor in a national daily, while it also pasted the summons on the last known address of the first defendant.
According to him, the 30-day duration of the summons would lapse on November 17, saying that by this the public summons was still running.
In view of this, Agoro said it would not be appropriate to take the plea of the defendants while the summons still subsist, adding that the former governor was being expected to appear before the court at the next adjourned date, failure of which the prosecution would make the appropriate application.
He then prayed the court to extend the time within which the first defendant ought to appear before the court as well as an order for issuance and pasting of hearing notice on the last known address of the former governor, Number 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Agoro then sought an adjournment to November 27, saying that parties had met and agreed on the date.
Both counsels for the second and third defendants, Aliyu Sarki SAN and Z.E Abbas respectively, confirmed the release of their respective clients on administrative bail by EFCC.
They, however, did not oppose the application for adjournment.
After hearing from parties, Justice Anenih adjourned to November 27 for Bello’s compliance with the public summons and ordered that hearing notice be served on the former governor, while same be pasted on his last known address.