Osamagbe Imadiyi
Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday to a 16-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC.
Bello was docked with two other defendants, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha, before trial judge Maryann Anenih of a Federal Capital Territory High Court located in Maitama. It was alleged that the defendants were involved in a fraud worth N110 billion.
The former governor’s whereabouts were unknown until yesterday, when he turned himself in following a lengthy game of hide-and-seek with the anti-graft agency. Bello, wearing a blue cap and white caftan, mounted the dock at approximately 9:45 a.m.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of property obtained illegally (CR/7781).
The former governor was accused by the EFCC of misusing state funds to buy properties, including No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million), No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), and No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million).
Additional properties that the defendants allegedly purchased with money taken from the Kogi state treasury included No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million), Block 18 Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), and Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million).
Furthermore, the defendants were charged with illegally obtaining property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited, and transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA.