Yahaya Bello Declares On Refusal To Appear Before Court Over N80.2bn Fraud

Yahaya Bello

“I'm afraid of arrest...”

Yahaya Bello, the embattled direct former governor of Kogi state, has declared that he is prepared to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja with respect to the 19-count indictment brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC.

Bello was listed as wanted by the EFCC due to financial and economic offenses totaling N80.2 billion.

Adeola Adedipe, SAN, one of his attorneys, disclosed that although his client was prepared to appear in court, he was concerned about being placed under arrest.

He continued: “The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head.”

Adedipe asked the court to set aside the earlier exparte arrest order that had been placed on the former governor.

The attorney contended that the charge had not been served on his client as required by law at the time the arrest warrant was issued, pointing out that the court had only authorized substituted service of the charge on the defendant through his attorney on Tuesday, April 23, during the resumed proceedings.

The attorney contended that the charge had not been served on his client as required by law at the time the arrest warrant was issued, pointing out that the court had only authorized substituted service of the charge on the defendant through his attorney during the resumption of proceedings on Tuesday, April 23.

“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.