The EFCC has admitted the co-defendants to administrative bail in an alleged money laundering charge filed against former Governor Yahaya Bello.

EFCC’s counsel, Jamiu Agoro, informed Justice Maryann Anenih of an Abuja High Court on Thursday upon resumed hearing in the charge.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as first to third defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the anti-graft agency.

Mr Agoro also sought adjournment in the fresh case the EFCC instituted against the ex-governor, saying the 30-day window was still running for the summons earlier issued.

The EFCC, however, said it admitted Mr Bello‘s alleged co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, to bail and asked the court for an extension of time for Mr Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih, counsel for EFCC, said the order of the court, given on October 3, had not elapsed.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the November 27,” he told the court.

He also noted that the November 20 date earlier given was not convenient for the Prosecution counsel.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, confirmed that the Prosecution had granted his client administrative bail. He said he had no objection to the application for adjournment.

The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred also.

The prosecution counsel also asked the court to grant an application to paste the notice of hearing on the last known address of the former governor.

After listening to all counsel, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment, including the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

The judge thereby adjourned the case until November 27.

On October 3, 2024,  the court issued a public summon against Bello following his absence in a fresh arraignment on 16-count charges preferred against him by the  EFCC.

The judge issued the summon in a ruling following an ex parte application by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, asking the court to grant leave so that Mr Bello could be served the charge via substituted means.

The court ordered that the charge be served on Mr Bello at his known residence, No 4, Benghazi Street, Maitama, Abuja, through a public summons to be published in widely circulated national newspapers and pasted within the premises of the court.

(NAN)