*To appear in court June 13 for his plea
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello on Friday, agreed to submit himself to the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment on June 13 in the corruption charges against him.
Lead counsel to the former Kogi State Governor, Barrister 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.
Barrister Mohammed claimed that the former governor was not afraid of arraignment but safety of his life in the hand of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, adding 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.
Justice Nwite stressed that Yahaya Bello was not the first former governor to be merely invited by the EFCC and would not be the last and that the charges are based on allegations that have not been proved, saying, the law even presume any accused person innocent until proven otherwise.
The judge advised Barrister Mohammed to prevail on his client to respect the law and order of court as a law abiding person.
Barrister Mohammed while responding 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, saying, ” All my client needs is just an assurance for the safety of his life which has been under threat for sometimes in Abuja.
Requesting for four weeks to bring his client before the court, Barrister Mohammed said Yahaya 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.
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