The former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Friday finally agreed to submit himself to the Federal High Court Abuja for arraignment on June 13.
At the Friday sitting, Justice Emeka Nwite rejected the former governor’s request for suspension of trial.
Following the rejection of the application, the lead Counsel to the defendant, Abdulwahab Mohammed, gave the undertaking that his client will appear before the court in the next adjourned date.
He stated that Bello was not afraid of arraignment but the safety of his life in the hand of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
According to Mohammed, the life of his client has been under consistent threats in Abuja, hence, his decision to go underground for safety.
In his remarks, Justice Nwite reiterated that EFCC as a law-abiding body would not do anything against the provisions of the law.
The court added 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.
Consequently, Justice Nwite advised Bello’s lawyer to prevail on his client to respect the law and order of court as a law-abiding citizen.
Responding, Mohammed expressed gratitude to the court, 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 sometimes in Abuja.”
He, therefore, requested for four weeks to bring his client before the court.
However, he added that the former governor, now at large, will come to the court instead of the EFCC to take his plea in the charges.
In his reaction, counsel to the Anti-graft agency, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, didn’t oppose the application.
Justice Nwite fixed June 13 for Bello to appear in court to take his, please.
