Just In: Ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Pleads Not Guilty To ₦110 Billion Fraud Charges

The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello was arraigned alongside two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, before Justice Maryann Anenih at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama. The charges include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property, linked to allegations of a N110 billion fraud.

The former governor’s appearance in court followed weeks of uncertainty about his whereabouts. On Tuesday, Bello surrendered to the EFCC after what was described as a protracted “hide-and-seek game” with the anti-graft agency.

Dressed in a white caftan and a blue cap, Bello mounted the dock at approximately 9:45 a.m. to face the charges in case CR/7781.

Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds 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 the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury, included 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).

More so, the defendants were 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.