Photo: Yahaya Bello, a Governor in the Dock
By Deborah Nnamdi
The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has been remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory ordered the remand of Bello, who is facing multi-billion naira money laundering charges, to be remanded in custody along with two co-defendants.
Justice Maryanne Anenih said Bello and others should remain in EFCC custody until December 10, when she plans to rule on the ex-governor and the co-defendants’ bail applications.
The embattled former governor pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a 16-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello, alongside co-defendants Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, was arraigned before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama.
The charges, marked CR/7781, bordered conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully acquired property.
The EFCC alleges that Bello misappropriated state funds to acquire multiple 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.
Bello, who was the first defendant in the charges, vehemently denied the allegations as the court register read them out.
