During the hearing, the Defence Counsel, A.M. Adoyi, highlighted that the arraignment of Bello was already under appeal at the Supreme Court. He referred to an affidavit of record filed on September 23 and stated, “The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null or to pull the rug out from under the feet of the Supreme Court.”
In contrast, EFCC Counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, criticised the Defence for using the court as a platform for entertainment. Pinheiro pointed out that an appeal by the defendant regarding the mode of service of the charge had been dismissed by the Court of Appeal on August 28, ruling that the service was valid. He argued that the defendant should not take any further steps until he submitted himself to the court.
