By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Yahaya Bello, the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, who is being accused of corruption, has said his absence in court on Tuesday is not unconnected with fear of being arrested by anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was due for commencement of trial on 19-count charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
Bello who bowed out of office January, briefed a team of his legal representatives who addressed the Federal High Court Abuja on his behalf on Tuesday.
A member of his legal team, Adeola Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) told the court that his client would have made himself available for the proceedings, but was afraid that he would be arrested.
“The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head,” Adedipe submitted.
He therefore urged the court to set aside the exparte order of arrest it earlier issued against the former governor.
Adedipe contended that as at the time the order of arrest was made, the charge had not been served on his client as required by the law.
He noted that it was only at the resumed proceedings on Tuesday that the court okayed substituted service of the charge on the defendant, through his lawyer.
“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,” counsel to the defendant added.
Yahaya Bello an accountant by profession was one of the youngest governors in recent history of the country. He led the North Central state for 8 years before handing over to his anointed successor, Usman Ododo.
Last week, officials of EFCC laid siege to his Abuja residence in a bid to take him into custody to provide answers on alleged N80.2 billion money laundering while he was in office.
