The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has affirmed his readiness to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to address the 19-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He, however, explained that he has been unable to appear because of fear of being arrested by the EFCC.
The former governor stated this in a statement to the court on Tuesday through a member of his legal tean, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN.
Below was absent and represented by his legal team when his matter came up on Tuesday.
Adedipe stated, “The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head.”
Adedipe urged the court to revoke the ex parte order of arrest issued against Bello, arguing that the order was issued before the charge was served on his client as required by law. He emphasized that the order for substituted service of the charge was only made during Tuesday’s proceedings.
Additionally, Bello reiterated his stance that the EFCC is an illegal organization, asserting that the Federal Government did not follow constitutional procedures in enacting the EFCC Act. He contended that the Act required ratification by the various Houses of Assembly of states before becoming operative.
In response, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to reject Bello’s application, insisting that the arrest warrant should remain until Bello appears for trial. Pinheiro accused Bello of employing delay tactics and argued that the court cannot entertain Bello’s applications until he is arraigned.
Furthermore, EFCC emphasized the legality of its actions, stating that the charges were against an individual accused of misappropriating public funds. EFCC assured the court that it would not execute the arrest warrant if Bello’s counsel guarantees his presence on the next adjourned date.
In conclusion, the court deliberated on the legal complexities surrounding Bello’s case, considering the arguments presented by both parties. The outcome of the court’s decision remains pending until Bello’s next appearance, where further proceedings are expected to unfold.