All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and a former Ambassador to Botswana, Isaac Onuh, has faulted the trial of former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, over corruption charges.
At a news conference on Friday in Lokoja, Onuh described Bello’s trial as an “unfortunate witch-hunt”.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on Thursday, asked a Federal High court in Abuja to begin the trial of Bello in his absence.
The anti-graft agency has also filed 19 counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80 billion against him. But Onuh insists that the anti-corruption agency was harassing and intimidating the ex-governor.
He said that Bello deserved to be respected by government agencies, including EFCC, having served the state for eight years.
He alleged that the EFCC had yet to provide ample evidence to substantiate its allegations of financial impropriety against Bello.
He noted that Kogi was governed by laws made by the state House of Assembly which established the state anti-corruption commission that consistently gave clean bill to Bello during his administration.
But the EFCC insisted that it asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of Bello in absentia, arguing that his non-appearance in court for arraignment should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.
The EFCC through its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also urged the court to enter a plea of “not guilty” on behalf of Bello.
According to EFCC, Bello is facing trial on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2billion.
It notes that the court had summoned him for arraignment six consecutive times.
Pinheiro noted that the former governor’s refusal to appear for his arraignment was malicious and that the court should not demonstrate helplessness by not trying him in absentia.(NAN)
