1 week ago
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Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Friday, pleaded not guilty to the N80.2 billion money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He pleaded not guilty to all 18 counts read to him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges centre on alleged diversion of Kogi State Government’s funds during his eight years as governor of the state.
At the arraignment, the lead counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the trial judge, Emeka Nwite, of the intention of the prosecution to withdraw an earlier application for abridgement of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.
Mr Pinheiro said the application had been overtaken by events.
ALSO READ: UPDATED: Court denies Yahaya Bello bail, transfers ex-governor from EFCC custody to prison
However, the defence lawyer Joseph Daudu, a SAN, did not object, and Mr Nwite accordingly granted the request.
Mr Bello was brought to court today from the Kuje Correctional Facility where Federal Capital Territory High Court remanded him on Tuesday over N110 billion fraud charges.
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