Hours After Arrest, EFCC Drags Yahaya Bello To Court Over Alleged N110bn Fraud

Less than a day after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) got the custody of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, he has been dragged before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama.

Bello, who had been declared wanted by the anti-graft body, surrendered himself to the agency on Tuesday.

The development made it the second time that the embattled former governor would storm the EFCC office to honour its invitation.

At his first appearance, the EFCC did not detain Yahaya Bello.

However, Tuesday’s scenario turned out to be different as the officials of the anti-graft body detained Bello after surrendering himself.

After about thirteen hours, the EFCC arraigned Bello and slammed him with a 16-count charge related to an alleged N110 billion fraud.

He arrived at the court under tight security, dressed in a white caftan and blue cap

The EFCC docked Bello and two other defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, before Justice Maryann Anenih.

The charges against them include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully acquired property.

EFCC accused the former governor of using stolen state funds to purchase several high-value properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II, Abuja (N100 million), No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million), Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), and a hotel apartment in Burj Khalifa, Dubai, worth 5.6 million dirhams.

The agency further claimed that Bello also acquired properties in Wuse Zone 4, valued at N60 million and N310.4 million respectively.

The defendants were also accused of transferring substantial amounts to TD Bank, USA, and receiving N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited, all linked to misappropriated funds.

Bello and his co-accused are expected to enter their pleas as the trial begins.