The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been summoned to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over allegations of criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully acquired property.
The summons, issued by Justice Maryann E. Anenih, claimed that Bello committed the crimes between 2016 and 2023.
The summons, dated October 3, 2024, was made public via a Friday post from the Economic Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) X handle.
According to court papers, Bello is accused of breaking Section 311 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963, which addresses criminal breach of trust and is penalised by Section 312.
He is also accused under Section 319A for allegedly owning goods suspected of having been obtained unlawfully.
The summons, which was made public, partly reads, “A complaint has been made on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, sometimes within the year 2016 up until 2023… did commit offences to wit: criminal breach of trust… and having possession or control of property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.”
Bello is expected to appear before “High Court No. 3, Maitama, on November 14, 2024, at 9.am.”
The EFCC has already proclaimed what the former governor wanted.
The commission recently filed new allegations against the fugitive former governor, accusing him of fraud of N110 billion.
The EFCC initially brought 19 allegations against Bello, his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu for money laundering totalling N80,246,470,088.88.
However, in the new 16 charges dated September 25, a copy of which was received by our correspondent, the total amount of money laundering offences increased to N110,446,470,89.00.
He visited the anti-graft commission’s headquarters in Abuja last month alongside Kogi State’s current governor, Usman Ododo, but was not interrogated.
