Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the plea made by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to lift the arrest warrant issued against him by the court.
The Judge emphasized that Bello’s refusal to appear for arraignment in a criminal case constituted contempt of court, making him ineligible for any leniency.
In a ruling delivered on Friday regarding Bello’s request to cancel the arrest warrant, the court stated that Bello’s continuous absence for arraignment showed disrespect towards the court.
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Dismissing the application on grounds of lack of merit, the court highlighted that Bello cannot evade the legal process and dictate terms from the comfort of his home.
Furthermore, the Judge refuted Bello’s argument that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over the criminal charges, emphasizing that Bello must first appear for arraignment and have his plea recorded before making any further requests.
Bello’s claim that the arrest warrant was unnecessary due to his counsel accepting the charges on his behalf was also dismissed by the court.
