Yahaya Bello Pleads Not Guilty To ₦110 Billion Fraud Charges

At the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Wednesday, former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, entered a plea of not guilty to a 16-count indictment brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello appeared in court alongside two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, before Justice Maryann Anenih at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama.

The charges encompass conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of property obtained unlawfully, all related to allegations of a N110 billion fraud.

His court appearance came after a period of speculation regarding his location. On Tuesday, Bello turned himself in to the EFCC following what has been characterized as an extended “hide-and-seek” scenario with the agency.

Clad in a white caftan and a blue cap, Bello took the stand at approximately 9:45 a.m. to respond to the charges outlined in case CR/7781.

The EFCC specifically accused the former governor of misappropriating state funds to purchase various properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (valued at N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (valued at N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (valued at N920 million).

The defendants are alleged to have acquired various properties using funds misappropriated from the Kogi state treasury.

Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

These properties include Block D Manzini Street in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, valued at N170 million; a hotel apartment community at Burj Khalifa in Dubai, costing Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams; Block 18 on Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, worth N60 million; and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, valued at N310.4 million.

Additionally, the defendants face allegations of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank in the USA, as well as possessing unlawfully acquired assets, which include N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.