Confusion as EFCC implicates ex-Kogi governor in alleged corruption committed before he assumed office
There was a scene of confusion at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday as amended charges were brought forth by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Alli Bello and Daudu Suleiman, alongside the previous Governor of Kogi.
In the amended charge presented before Justice James Omotosho, the EFCC claimed that the suspects misappropriated around N100 billion belonging to the state government in September 2015, months prior to ex-Governor Yahaya Bello assuming office.
Ex-Governor Bello, who was not initially a defendant in the case, was absent from the court proceedings.
When it came time for the defendants to be re-arraigned, the former governor’s counsel, A.M. Aliyu, SAN, opposed the reading of the amended charges against his client.
Aliyu argued that the EFCC had failed to comply with Section 218 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, as they had not provided a copy of the amended charges to the defense.
In response, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the defendant’s objections, pointing out that the court had already approved the amendment.
Justice Omotoso, in a brief ruling, mentioned that he had previously directed for a speedy trial in the case and had ordered that all objections be withheld until the address stage.
The judge then instructed the court registrar to read out the amended charges.
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After the 17-count charge was read to the defendants, Ali Bello, who is the current Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, and his co-defendant, Dauda Suleman, denied the fraud allegations in the amended charges brought against them at the fresh arraignment.
They pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
In the first count, former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were accused of conspiring with each other in September 2015 and converted N80, 246, 470, 089 to their personal use.
They were alleged to have run foul of Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 because they ought to have reasonably known that the money was a product of fraud and criminal breach of public trust.
In other charges, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were alleged to have concealed several millions of naira with one Rabiu Musa Tafada, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator trading under Global Venture in Abuja.
Aliyu, who appeared for Alli Bello, at this point, applied that one of the EFCC witnesses, Edward Fanada, be recalled for fresh cross-examination in view of the contents of the amended charges.
The request was granted by Justice Omotoso due to no opposition from the EFCC lawyer.
Meanwhile, the judge admitted Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman to a bail condition earlier granted in the previous charges.
He adjourned the .after until March 20 and March 21 for trial continuation.
