Yahaya Bello pleads not guilty to N80.2b fraud charges, gets N500m bail

December 13, 2024

By Adedoja Adesoji

The former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to a 19-count charge of criminal breach of trust brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charges allege that Bello diverted funds belonging to Kogi State to acquire property both in Nigeria and abroad through proxies.

“I understand all the counts and I plead not guilty to all of them,” Bello stated in response to the charges read to him by an official of the court.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the court session, granted Bello bail to the tune of ₦500 million.

The former Governor must produce two sureties in like sum, who must swear to an affidavit of means and own properties in Abuja.

The title documents of these properties will be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

The EFCC had arraigned Bello on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.

At the resumed hearing, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, notified the court of his intention to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.

Counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object to this, and Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request, striking out the application. Daudu explained that his client’s failure to attend court before was not out of disrespect but a desire to fully defend himself.

It’s worth noting that Bello’s case is one of the high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria, and the outcome will be closely watched.

The EFCC has been working to tackle corruption in the country, and this case is a significant test of their efforts.