Court grants EFCC’s request, postpones Yahaya Bello’s arraignment to Nov 27

Story by Victor Itodo ABUH 

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has approved the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) request to postpone the arraignment of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

The EFCC cited the 30-day period for serving the court summons as the reason for the delay.

EFCC counsel Jamiu Agoro argued before Justice Maryann Anenih that the proceedings should not continue until this statutory period expires.

Bello’s co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, have been granted administrative bail by the EFCC.

All parties agreed to reconvene for the next hearing on November 27, 2024, as November 20 was unsuitable for prosecution counsels.

Defense counsels for both co-defendants raised no objections to the new date.

Read also: EFCC requests hearing adjournment for Yahaya Bello to Nov 14

Yahaya Bello and EFCC’s circus show, by Zainab Suleiman Okino

Justice Anenih approved the adjournment and directed that a notice of hearing be delivered to Bello’s last known address.

The case, involving 16 charges against the former governor and his co-defendants, will proceed with the arraignment on November 27.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leveled N110 billion fraud charges against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and his associates, escalating from an initial N80 billion accusation. The charges, which detail money laundering and criminal breach of trust, involve the alleged misuse of state funds for the acquisition of multiple properties across Abuja. Bello, along with Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, is accused of dishonest transactions that include purchasing properties such as houses in Maitama, Gwarimpa, Asokoro, and Wuse, as well as wiring large sums to a U.S. bank account.

The EFCC’s charges claim that Bello and his co-defendants misappropriated funds between 2017 and 2023 while overseeing the state treasury. Specific allegations include using N950 million for a property at Danube Street, Maitama, and N920 million for another at Asokoro, among others. The offenses are in violation of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria and are punishable under its provisions. The case underscores the EFCC’s ongoing scrutiny of high-profile corruption cases involving former state officials.

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