Abuja: Yahaya Bello arrives High court for trial

The former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello has arrived at the federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Abuja, on Wednesday morning, for arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to report, Bello is anticipated to be charged with alleged N110 billion in fraud.

Finally, on November 26, EFCC agents took the ex governor into custody.

arrested by EFCC operatives on November 26.

In April, the commission declared Bello wanted after multiple fruitless attempts to arrest him.

Bello accepted the anti-graft agency’s invitation in September, in the company of Kogi state governor Usman Ododo.

Bello and Ododo were at the EFCC office in Abuja’s parking lot.

But that day, he was not taken in.

Bello was directed to turn himself in for arraignment by the Abuja court of appeals on August 20.

Later, EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede would claim that Bello took $720,000 out of Kogi’s funds to cover his child’s tuition in advance.

EFCC also filed a 16-count charge against Yahaya Bello over alleged money fraud.

However, the arraignment was delayed due to the former governor’s absence.

EFCC charges against Yahaya

The EFCC filed fraud charges on September 25 in connection with the purported embezzlement of N110 billion in government monies from Kogi State.

Several allegations in the N110 billion fraud indictment claim that Yahaya used money he allegedly embezzled from the state treasury to purchase houses for himself in upscale neighborhoods of Abuja and one in Dubai.

The former governor allegedly stole N100 million from the government’s coffers in 2021 to purchase a home at 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II, Abuja, according to the criminal commission.

In addition, he was accused of using N950 million that belonged to the state in 2023 to purchase another house for himself at 35 Danubi Street, Maitama, Abuja.

Furthermore, the EFCC claims that in 2020, Yahaya used N920 million that belonged to the state to purchase another property on Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street in Asokoro, Abuja.

Bello was accused by the panel of embezzling N100 million from the Kogi State Government in order to purchase a home for himself at Block D, Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

In a different N80 billion money laundering case that is still ongoing before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the EFCC is still working to arraign Yahaya Bello.

The EFCC filed 16 criminal breach of trust charges against Bello.

According to the claims, he and his co-defendants conspired to divert more than N110 billion in 2016, his first year in government.

According to report, “the two ongoing cases, presently before separate judicial tribunals, concern allegations of misappropriation of Kogi State Government funds during the eight-year gubernatorial tenure of Yahaya Bello.

“During Thursday’s proceedings, the EFCC formally charged Yahaya Bello, Umar Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu in connection with the ongoing investigation”.

The EFCC attorney and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rotimi Oyedepo, asked Judge Anenih to postpone the matter till November 14, when the former governor’s summons expires, in light of Bello’s nonattendance in court on Thursday.

As stated in the public summons against the former governor, Oyedepo reminded the court throughout the proceedings of its previous order to publish and post the charge.

In order to rectify the record, Judge Anenih interrupted and said that she had not ordered the charges to be shown with the public summons.

Even though the summons will expire on November 14 after its 30-day period, Oyedepo said that he anticipated Yahaya would show up in court.

As a result, the prosecutor requested an adjournment until November 14 in order to allow for the three suspects’ arraignment.

A SAN named Counsel Joseph Daudu immediately objected to Oyedepo’s plea.

Daudu submitted that “since the matter was listed for arraignment on Thursday, both him and his client were fully prepared to proceed.

“Each defendant possesses independent status and should therefore be treated as such.

“It is unacceptable to utilize an individual as a human shield when they are not being held hostage. I strongly object to this practice”, he stated.

“If the prosecution was unprepared to proceed, the defendants present in court should be promptly discharged”, the SAN said.

Another defendant’s attorney, Barrister Mohammed Aliyu, agreed with Mr. Daudu’s argument.

Aliyu stated that he intended to ask the court to take his client’s bail application into consideration.

Oyedepo, however, disagreed with him, stating that “because the case is a joint trial involving allegations of conspiracy, the application for bail cannot be entertained”.

The prosecution stated that he had received an application from the second defendant requesting the enforcement of fundamental rights and suggested that the court be adjourned until November 14.

He said that until the three suspects have been formally arraigned, the court cannot examine the bail motion.

However, Mr. Daudu contended that Oyedepo’s position go against the principles of fair hearing.

“His argument is convincing but does not go by what the law says.

“The requirement that all defendants must be present prior to arraignment seems unusual and illogical to me.

“Detention duration does not infringe upon fair hearing rights, all relevant issues can still be addressed.

“Given their previous experience with administrative bail from the EFCC, granting it again would not be detrimental to their dignity.

Counsel Daudu, alleged that the EFCC committed a procedural irregularity by obtaining a remand order from a magistrate court despite the case already being before a high court, this constitutes the abuse of the judicial process,” he stated.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook