The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh charges against the wanted former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, accusing him of N110bn fraud.
The EFCC initially charged the former Kogi State governor, together with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, with 19 counts of money laundering totalling N80,246,470,088.88.
However, in the new 16 charges dated September 25, a copy of which our correspondent received on Wednesday, the total amount of the same money laundering offences increased to N110,446,470,89.00.
Bello, Umar Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu were designated as the first through third defendants.
He and other defendants were accused of using the money to buy a total of 12 properties in various areas of Abuja.
The trio was accused of criminal breach of trust in the amount of N110, 446, 470, 089.00 entrusted to them.
Furthermore, the EFCC stated that in 2023, Bello, Oricha, and Hudu, while in control of the state’s treasury, dishonestly spent a total of N950,000,000.00 to acquire a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
The offence, according to the EFCC, was contrary to Section 311 of Penal Code Law Cap.89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.
The commission added, “That Bello, Oricha, and Hudu sometime in 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N100,000,000.00 for the acquisition of a property known as No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja.”
Other properties alleged by the EFCC to have been acquired by the defendants while in charge of the state treasury include Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, which was purchased for N170,000,000.00 in 2022, a N100 million property in No. 1773 Guzape District, Abuja, in 2018, and a N550 million property in No. 2934A Cadastral Zone A06, also known as No. 1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abuja, in 2020, among others.
The EFCC also stated that in 2021, the defendants dishonestly sent $570,330.00 and $556,265.00 to account No. 4266644272, domiciled with TD Bank, United States of America.
“That Bello, sometime between 2017 and 2018, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had under your control the total sum of N677 848,000 unlawfully obtained from Bespoque Business Solution Limited,” the charge sheet added.
