Adeola Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has submitted a request to withdraw his legal representation for Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, in the ongoing case at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Governor Yahaya Bello is currently facing a 19-count charge relating to accusations of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds, with the total amount involved estimated to be around N80.2 billion.
The charges against Yahaya Bello were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but he was not present for his scheduled arraignment. Kemi Pinhero, the lead counsel of the EFCC, requested the court to hold Bello’s legal team responsible for their failure to ensure his appearance in court, as they had previously committed to doing so.
Pinhero invoked Order 31(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for legal practitioners, contending that lawyers who fail to honor a court undertaking are guilty of misconduct and contempt. He urged for immediate disciplinary action against the implicated lawyers, emphasizing the significance of upholding the integrity of the judiciary.
Pinhero stated, “My lord, our application is that since one of the lawyers is present in court, he should be moved to the dock and dealt with summarily.”
Pinhero stressed the importance of setting a precedent and drew comparisons to previous cases involving prominent figures, including a former US President, who faced legal proceedings. He highlighted the need for accountability and justice.
On the other hand, Adedipe countered the assertions, stating that he was not the lead counsel and had not made any such commitment.
He accused the EFCC of malice and disrespect towards the court, claiming that the agency had failed to execute the arrest warrant for Bello.
Adedipe utilized section 349(8) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, as the basis for his decision to withdraw as Bello’s legal representative, considering the circumstances surrounding the case.
In response, the EFCC maintained that Adedipe’s attempt to withdraw was untimely, asserting that it was an afterthought and urging the court to dismiss his request. Justice Emeka Nwite has not yet issued a ruling on this matter, and the decision is still pending.
, has submitted a request to withdraw his legal representation for Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, in the ongoing case at the Federal High Court in Abuja. ){kind=link}