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Months after the ‘hide and seek’ game between him and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), immediate-past governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello is expected to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
All eyes are on the former governor as the anti-corruption agency waits for his arraignment to answer charges on allegations bordering on corruption.
The former governor after intrigues surrounding his attempted arrest by EFCC operatives, finally agreed to submit himself to the court at the last adjourned date.
Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed gave the undertaking before Justice Emeka Nwite on May 10, shortly after the request for suspension of trial by the defendant was rejected by the court.
According to Mohammed, the former Kogi governor was not afraid of arraignment but feared for the safety of his life in the hand of the EFCC in Abuja.
He said 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 Bello was not the first former governor to be merely invited by the anti-graft agency and would not be the last.
He also said that the charges are based on allegations that have not been proved, adding that the law even presume any accused person innocent until proven otherwise.
He advised the senior lawyer to prevail on his client to respect the law and order as a law-abiding citizen.
Bello’s lawyer in response to the admonition, thanked the Judge for the counsel, 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 said.
The lawyer at the sitting requested for four weeks to bring his client before the court.
He said Bello would however come to the court instead of the EFCC to take his plea in the charges.