COURTROOM DRAMA: EFCC, BELLO'S LAWYERS ENGAGE IN HEATED ARGUMENT, JUDGE WALKS OUT

Read Time:1 Minute, 26 Second

On Wednesday, the planned arraignment of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, on alleged N82 billion fraud charges took on a dangerous dimension when two senior advocates engaged in a war of words during the proceedings.

Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, representing Bello, and Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, representing the federal government, are the two attorneys.

The conflict arose when Mohammed declared his candidacy for the former governor without including his associate, Adeola Adedipe, SAN.

Meanwhile, the federal government counsel opposed the exclusion on the grounds that Adedipe should be included in the proceedings until discharged by the court.

Adedipe, on the other hand, interrupted the argument of the federal government lawyer, insisting that he was not prepared to be part of the proceedings.

ENTERTAINMENT: BURNA BOY EMERGES FIRST AFRICAN ARTISTE TO HIT TWO BILLION STREAMS IN UK

At this stage, Mohammed interjected and announced that Adedipe had filed a notice of withdrawal from the proceedings.

As Justice Emeka Nwite was about to deliver a ruling on the contentious appearance matter, Bello’s lawyer stood up and requested to be allowed to stay outside the proceedings if the court proceeded with the ruling.

Fuming with anger, Mohammed openly called Pinheiro, SAN, a rough lawyer who takes delight in misleading the court.

His attempt to make further abusive remarks about the federal government lawyer was aborted, but Mohammed refused to apologise, insisting that he would leave the court should the judge go ahead with the ruling.

When tempers rose beyond control, Justice Emeka Nwite, out of anger, abruptly brought the proceedings to an end by walking straight into his chamber.

At the time of this report, tension was still high in the courtroom.