Former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello is set to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja today, June 13, for his arraignment on corruption charges.

This follows the ex-governor’s agreement to submit himself to the court at the last adjourned date.

Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, made this commitment to Justice Emeka Nwite on May 10, shortly after the court denied the defendant’s request to suspend the trial. Mohammed explained that Bello was not avoiding arraignment but feared for his safety in the hands of the EFCC in Abuja. He claimed that his client had been receiving consistent threats to his life, which forced him to go underground for protection.

The decision to face trial was influenced by Justice Nwite’s assurance that the EFCC, as a law-abiding agency, would not act outside the provisions of the law. The judge pointed out that Bello is not the first former governor to be invited by the anti-graft agency and will not be the last. He emphasized that the charges against Bello are still allegations and that the law presumes him innocent until proven guilty.

Justice Nwite advised Bello’s lawyer to urge his client to respect the law and the court’s order, highlighting the importance of being a law-abiding citizen. In response, Bello’s lawyer thanked the judge for his reassurance, stating that with the guarantee of his client’s safety, Bello would appear in court.

“My client only seeks assurance for his safety, which has been threatened in Abuja for some time now,” Mohammed said. He requested four weeks to bring Bello before the court, agreeing that the former governor would present himself directly to the court rather than the EFCC to enter his plea on the charges.