RIO DE JANEIRO, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is expected to turn himself in on Saturday, local media reported on Friday night.

Lula is expected to attend a religious ceremony on Saturday morning for his wife Marisa Leticia Lula da Silva, who died last year.

He will turn himself in to the federal police after the ceremony, according to news site El Pais.

Federal judge Sergio Moro ordered the former president to turn himself in by 5:00 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) Friday but Lula remained at the headquarters of the Metallurgy Workers' Union in Sao Bernardo do Campo.

Several political leaders showed up at the building to express support. There is also a growing crowd around the building and many supporters said they would prevent any attempt to arrest Lula.

Lula's lawyers have appealed against the arrest order in the Supreme Court. They said Lula can be arrested after his second conviction but the arrest can take place only after all appeals within the scope of the federal court have been heard. They also said the deadline to appeal has not ended, which makes the arrest order illegal.

In July 2017, Lula was sentenced to over nine years in prison for corruption and illicit association. In January, the term was extended to 12 years and a month after an appeals court upheld the conviction.