Immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to a 16 -count charge bordering on diversion of N110 billion from the state government’s coffers.
The ex-governor was arraigned by the EFCC at the Federal Capital Territory FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024,
He had spent the night in the anti-graft agency’s custody, and was driven to court at about 8:50 a.m.
Bello was docked before Justice Maryann Anenih, alongside two other defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, who were granted bail at the court’s last hearing on the case.
The defendants were accused of complicity in a N110billion fraud. Dressed in white caftan and blue cap, Bello, mounted the dock around 9:45am.
The charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
The EFCC is alleging that the former governor converted state funds to personal use to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties include Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
They were further accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.
Bello was declared wanted by the EFCC in April this year and shunned several summons but finally surrendered himself to the anti-corruption agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
On 18 September, Bello, in company with his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, went to EFCC to make a dramatic, controversial attempt to surrender himself to the anti-graft agency but the EFCC refused to arrest him. However, later that day, its officials attempted to arrest him at the Kogi State Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, where he was being sheltered by his successor.
The encounter resulted in hours-long shootout following a confrontation that reportedly ensued between EFCC operatives and the governor’s security details.
While the commotion was going on, Bello escaped from the scene in Ododo’s convoy and was not seen till Tue
sday when he turn himself in.