Crime

EFCC set to arraign Yahaya Bello again over alleged N80.2bn fraud

Published

24 minutes ago

November 28, 2024

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will this morning, arraign the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Bello will be docked before trial Justice Emeka Nwite, on a 19-count charge that borders on alleged N80.2billion fraud.

It will be recalled that Justice Nwite had on April 17, issued a warrant for the arrest of the former governor following his repeated failure to appear before the court for his arraignment.

Effort by operatives of the EFCC to execute the arrest order at Bello’s residence in Abuja was allegedly thwarted by the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, who was said to have whisked him away in his official car.

However, after months of hide-and-seek, Bello, last Tuesday, surrendered himself to the anti-graft agency which docked him before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday.

Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT high court had upon the plea of not guilty by the defendant, remanded him in custody of the EFCC.

Meanwhile, though the instant case at the Federal High Court was originally adjourned till January 21, 2025, however, the anti-graft agency persuaded trial Justice Nwite to shorten the date.

Those to be arraigned alongside the ex-governor are his nephew, Ali Bello and two others- Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants engaged in money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds.