In a significant development, former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello has consented to present himself before the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment on June 13 concerning the corruption charges levied against him.
Yahaya Bello's lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), affirmed this commitment to Justice Emeka Nwite following the court's rejection of the defendant's plea for trial suspension.
Mohammed clarified that Bello's willingness to appear in court stemmed not from fear of arraignment but from concerns over his safety while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja. He cited ongoing threats to Bello's life as the reason for his recent absence.
The court, under Justice Nwite's jurisdiction, assured Bello of his safety, emphasizing the EFCC's adherence to legal procedures. Justice Nwite underscored that Bello, like many before him, remains innocent until proven guilty, with the invitation based on unproven allegations.
Expressing gratitude for the court's assurances, Bello's legal team requested four weeks to facilitate his appearance in court for plea-taking, rather than at the EFCC office.
With no objections from the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Justice Nwite scheduled June 13 for Bello's court appearance.
Previously, Justice Nwite had mandated Bello's presence in court, regardless of the legality of his arrest warrant. This ruling followed an application by Bello's counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), urging the court to annul the April 17 arrest warrant.
Adedipe argued that Bello's acceptance of the charges through Mohammed rendered the arrest warrant redundant. He contended that the warrant's issuance before the charge was unjust and should be rescinded.
Despite objections from the prosecution counsel, Justice Nwite ultimately ruled in favor of setting aside the arrest warrant, emphasizing the need for fair treatment and due process in the legal proceedings.
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