Former Kogi State Governor, Mr Yahaya Bello, has expressed readiness to appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja in response to the 19-count charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A member of his legal team, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, stated that his client would have already appeared in court but was apprehensive about being arrested by the anti-graft agency. “The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head,” Adedipe said.
Adedipe urged the court to revoke the exparte order of arrest it had previously imposed on the former governor. He argued that the charge had not been served on his client as required by law at the time the warrant of arrest was issued.
“As at the time the warrant was issued, the order for substituted service had not been made. That order was just made this morning. A warrant of arrest should not be hanging on his neck when we leave this court,” the counsel to the defendant added.
This development marks a significant turn in the ongoing legal proceedings involving the former governor and the EFCC. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for other public figures facing similar charges.
