Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, has been served by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with charges relating to an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
EFCC confirmed that the charges were delivered to Bello through his legal representative, Abdulwahab Muhammad (SAN), as ordered by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The decision to serve Bello through his counsel was made after the former governor refused to appear in court.
According to a statement from Dele Oyewole, the Head of Media and Publicity at EFCC, the Commission is prosecuting Yahaya Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu on a total of 19 charges related to money laundering amounting to N80,246,470,089.88k (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, and Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eight Kobo).
During the recent court session, Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), requested the quashing of the arrest warrant issued by the Commission against Bello. Adedipe argued that the substituted service of the charges through Abdulwahab Muhammad (SAN) had nullified the arrest warrant.
On the other hand, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Piniero (SAN), urged the court not to entertain any motions from Bello’s legal team until the defendant appears in court for arraignment.
After arguments from both sides, Justice Nwite postponed the ruling on the defense’s application seeking the cancellation of the arrest warrant on Bello until May 10, 2024.