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| Former Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, |
On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordered former Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, to present himself for arraignment.
The court also restrained Mr. Bello from taking any further action in the case until he is arraigned.
Additionally, the court set aside the judgment previously delivered by the Kogi State High Court.
Reports indicate that Mr. Bello’s whereabouts have been officially unknown since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attempted to arrest him during a raid at his Abuja residence. However, it is believed that he has been hiding in the Kogi State Government House.
Governor Usman Ododo reportedly thwarted attempts by EFCC operatives to arrest Mr. Bello at his Abuja residence.
The EFCC is prosecuting Mr. Bello for alleged criminal diversion and money laundering amounting to N80,246,470,089.88 during his tenure as Kogi State Governor.
On April 18, the anti-corruption agency filed 19 criminal counts against the former governor before a Federal High Court in Abuja, including charges of criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
The charge, filed at the Federal High Court 9 under charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 and dated March 9, 2024, lists Yahaya Adoza Bello as the sole defendant, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant.
According to the charge papers obtained by SaharaReporters, the EFCC accused Mr. Bello of converting a total of N80,246,470,089.88, belonging to the Kogi State government, to himself in February 2016. This offense is contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.
Mr. Bello was also accused of indirectly using Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu to launder N950 million, being proceeds of crime, for the acquisition of a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
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