From Godwin Tsa, Abuja.
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday granted the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the former Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to appear in court for his trial.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, held that even if the arrest warrant was illegally obtained, the defendant (Bello) should have still shown up in court.
Immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello on Friday said he Meanwhile Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), has assured that the former governor would submit himself to the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for arraignment on June 13 in the corruption charges against him.
Mohammed claimed that the former governor was not afraid of arraignment but the safety of his life in the hand of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC in Abuja. He said that the life of his client has been under consistent threats in Abuja, hence, his decision to go underground for safety.
The agreement to submit to court trial was informed by the remarks of Justice Nwite that EFCC as a law-abiding body would not do anything against the provisions of the law.
The judge said that Bello was not the first former governor to be merely invited by the anti-graft agency and would not be the last. The judge also said that the charges are based on allegations that have not been proved, adding that the law even presumes any accused person innocent until proven otherwise.
He advised the senior lawyer to prevail on his client to respect the law and order of court as a law-abiding person. Bello’s lawyer in response to the admonition, thanked the Judge for the hint, adding that with the assurance that EFCC would not do anything untoward, the former governor would be brought to court.
“All my client needs is just an assurance for the safety of his life which has been under threat for some times in Abuja.
The lawyer requested for four weeks to bring his client before the court. He said that Bello would however come to the court instead of the EFCC to take his plea in the charges.
Based on the undertaking and no opposition from the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, Justice Nwite fixed June 13 for Bello to appear in court for his plea to be taken.