A public summons has been issued by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, ordering former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to appear before the court.
Mr. Bello has been ordered to appear before the court on October 24, 2024, to answer to a 16-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court’s decision was made by Justice Maryanne Anenih after the EFCC requested the issuance of a public summons due to challenges in serving Bello with the charges directly.
According to the EFCC, the charges, which were filed on September 24, accuse Bello and two others of criminal breach of trust involving N110.4 billion.
Justice Anenih ordered the EFCC to publish the summons in a widely circulated newspaper to ensure that Bello is properly informed. In addition, copies of the summons must be posted at Bello’s last known address and in visible locations within the court premises.
The anti-graft agency’s inability to serve the former governor directly led to the delay of his arraignment, which was initially scheduled for Thursday, October 3, 2024.
The two co-defendants in the case, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are also required to appear in court on the same date.