The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has finally agreed to submit himself to the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment on June 13 in the corruption charges against him.
Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, gave the undertaking to Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday shortly after the request for suspension of trial by the defendant was rejected by the court.
The senior lawyer claimed that the former governor is not afraid of arraignment but his safety in the hands 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 is not the first former governor to be merely invited by the anti-graft agency, and would not be the last.
The judge also said 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 the 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 time in Abuja,” he said.
The lawyer requested for four weeks to bring his client before the court.
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.