The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to allegations of an N80 billion fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello was arraigned by the anti-graft agency before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering.
During the hearing on the morning of 13 December, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court of his intention to withdraw an earlier application seeking to abridge the date fixed for the arraignment. He explained that the application had been overtaken by events. Defence counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object, and Justice Nwite granted the request, striking out the application.
Bello, who was brought to the court from Kuje Prison, denied any involvement in the alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
The EFCC accused Bello, who served as Kogi State Governor from 2016 to 2024, of using five proxies to acquire high-value properties in Abuja and Dubai with proceeds of crime.
The agency also alleged that Bello attempted to conceal over N3 billion by transferring it to proxies and wired more than $700,000 to a United States bank account, violating the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
Among those implicated in the alleged fraud are Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, and four others: Dauda Suleiman, Shehu Bello, Rabiu Musa, and Abdulsalam Hudu, the latter reportedly at large.
According to the EFCC, Bello’s actions amount to a public breach of trust, in violation of Sections 18(a) and (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, and are punishable under Section 15 of the same Act.
