The legal representative of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), has committed to producing his client in court on June 13 to face a 19-count charge of money laundering brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The anti-graft agency had alleged that Bello gulped a substantial sum of N80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi State Government.
Following the Federal High Court’s rejection of his application to halt proceedings pending an appeal related to a contempt case against the EFCC Chairman in a Kogi High Court, Mohammed assured the court that Bello would appear as required.
Yahaya’s counsel insisted that his client’s absence was not due to fear of the charges but rather concern for his safety, citing specific threats, according to The Nation.
“Our client is not afraid to attend court in respect of the charge. But, he fears for his life, by the information he has. He is afraid and fears for his life. Will the complainant not arrest him when he comes to court? This is one of the issues,” Mohammed said.
Justice Emeka Nwite expressed discomfort about the position of Mohammed, wondering if Bello was the first ex-governor to be invited after office by the EFCC on allegations of corruption.
“Is he the first ex-governor to be invited by the complainant? Is the EFCC a killing machine? An accused person is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. We are in a democracy. We all have to respect the rule of law and be law-abiding,” the judge said.
He accused Bello’s lawyers of encouraging him to ignore the court and disregard its order, by fueling him with false claims.
Justice Nwite expressed disappointment about the conduct of Bello’s team of lawyers, noting that they have continued to wrongly advise their client.
The judge also agreed with the lawyer to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) that Bello and his client were trying to take the court for a ride.
Upon realising that the court was unwilling to indulge the defendant, Bello’s lawyer, who earlier claimed not to know his client’s whereabouts, promised to locate him and ensure that he attended the court on the next date.
“He will come to court. We assure the court that he will come. We only need time to reach him. We don’t know where he is at the moment,” Mohammad said.
Following the defendant’s lead lawyer, Justice Nwite adjourned till June 13 for arraignment.