By Emmanuel Adeleke
Former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has stated his readiness to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja, to address the 19 charges of corruption levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Although Bello was not present for his arraignment on Tuesday, his counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), told the court that his client is ready to address the allegations.
Adedipe said Bello would have attended the Tuesday’s proceedings himself but was apprehensive about a pending arrest order.
He argued that when the arrest order was issued, the charges had not been officially served on his client as required by law.
Adedipe contended that it was during Tuesday’s proceedings that the court approved substituted service of the charges on the defendant, through his lawyer.
“The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head.
“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,” he said.
The lawyer subsequently urged the court to set aside the ex parte order of arrest it earlier issued against the former governor.
