The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged N80 billion fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
EFCC had arraigned Bello before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on a 19-count charge, bordering on alleged money laundering.
At the resumed hearing on Friday Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, notified the court of his intention to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.
He said the application had been overtaken by events.
Counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object to this and Justice Emeka Nwite, accordingly granted the request, striking out the application.
Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, has maintained his innocence, with his legal team describing the charges as politically motivated.
The charges against Bello stem from allegations of money laundering during his tenure as governor. The EFCC accuses him of mismanaging public funds, including funds earmarked for state projects and salaries.
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.
