On Friday, Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, has finally agreed to appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment on June 13 concerning the corruption charges filed against him.
The assurance was given by Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, to Justice Emeka Nwite after the court rejected the defendant’s request for a trial suspension.
According to the senior lawyer, Bello is not hesitant about the arraignment but is concerned about his safety, particularly in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
Claiming that his client’s life has been consistently threatened in Abuja, Mohammed explained Bello’s decision to go underground for safety reasons.
The decision to agree to stand trial in court was influenced by Justice Nwite’s belief that the EFCC, being a law-abiding institution, would adhere to legal provisions.
Justice Nwite noted that Bello is not the first former governor invited by the anti-graft agency and emphasized that the charges are based on unproven allegations, with the law presuming an accused person innocent until proven guilty.
Advising the senior lawyer to ensure his client respects the court’s law and order, the Judge emphasized the importance of abiding by the law.
In response to the advice, Bello’s lawyer expressed gratitude to the Judge and stated that given the assurance of safety from the EFCC, the former governor would be brought to court.
He further mentioned that his client only requires assurance for his safety, which has been jeopardized in Abuja for a while.
The lawyer requested four weeks to present his client before the court, and with no objection from the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Justice Nwite scheduled June 13 for Bello’s court appearance and plea to be taken.