Court Issues Public Summons for Yahaya Bello Over ₦110.4b Fraud Case: Here’s What It Means
Justice Maryanne Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, on Thursday, October 3, issued a public summons against Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, over an ongoing criminal investigation involving ₦110.4 billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The public summons, which requires Bello to appear before the court on October 24, 2024, follows an application by the EFCC, which had struggled to serve Bello with a fresh 16-count charge.
The charges, filed on September 24, are not limited to the former governor; two other individuals, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are also defendants in the case.
What is a Public Summons?
A public summons is typically issued when the court is unable to serve a defendant through normal means. It’s a legal tool used to ensure that the person being summoned is aware of their legal obligation to appear in court, especially when attempts to serve a summons in person have failed. In this case, the EFCC, unable to deliver the court summons directly to Bello, resorted to seeking a public summons to compel his appearance.
The court ordered the EFCC to take several steps to ensure Bello is aware of the pending charges. Specifically, the EFCC must publish the public summons in a widely circulating newspaper. Additionally, the court instructed that copies of the summons be pasted at Bello’s last known address and in conspicuous locations within the court premises.
Once the public summons is issued, the defendant is legally obligated to respond to the court’s order. Failure to appear after a public summons has been issued can lead to more serious legal consequences, including the possibility of a warrant being issued for the defendant’s arrest.
The Allegations Against Yahaya Bello
The charges against Bello stem from accusations of criminal breach of trust amounting to ₦110.4 billion during his tenure as Governor of Kogi State.
Recall that the case between EFCC and Bello has been on for a while with the former governor showing unwillingness to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Yahaya Bello, five months after being invited for questioning by the EFCC, appeared before the anti-graft agency on September 18. Following his appearance, a statement signed by Ohiare Michael, Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, stated that Bello has “nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”
“The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. It is important for the former Governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name,” the statement read.
