The trial of Ali Bello, chief of staff to Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, at the federal high court in Abuja was stalled on Tuesday after his new counsel sought time to study the case file.
Ahmed Raji, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Bello’s new counsel, told the court that he had only been briefed a day earlier and needed an adjournment to familiarise himself with the matter.
Raji said the request had been communicated to the prosecution.
Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN and counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), opposed the application, arguing that due process was not followed in the change of representation.
Oyedepo said A.M. Aliyu, who was representing Bello initially, ought to have formally notified the court of any change in representation in line with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
He added that the law requires such an application to be filed at least three days before a scheduled hearing.
“My lord, the application is speculative and not properly before the court,” he said, urging the judge to refuse the adjournment.
Raji, however, maintained that granting the request would serve the interest of a fair hearing.
James Omotosho, the presiding judge, then adjourned the case to May 5 and 6 for continuation of trial.
The EFCC is prosecuting Bello alongside Dauda Sulaiman on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged misappropriation and money laundering amounting to N10.27 billion.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants diverted funds belonging to the Kogi state government and concealed proceeds of the alleged crime through a bureau de change operator in Abuja.
Bello, a nephew of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, and Sulaiman have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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