Former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello arrives FCT High Court for arraignment over alleged N110.4bn fraud

Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has been produced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for arraignment before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama. 
 

Bello is billed to enter his plea to a 16-count charge bordering on his alleged complicity in a N110.4 billion fraud. 

The former governor’s whereabouts remained unknown till yesterday when he finally surrendered himself to the anti-graft agency. 

Today, armed EFCC operatives brought him into the court premises before 9 a.m. for his arraignment. 

He will be docked before trial Justice Maryann Anenih, alongside his two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu. 

The charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property. 

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). 
 

The defendants were also 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.

Watch the video of Yahaya in court.