Finally, ex-Kogi gov, Yahaya Bello, appears in court for alleged N110.4bn fraud case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court for his alleged involvement in a N110.4 billion fraud.

Bello, who was previously on the run, turned himself in and appeared in court dressed in a white caftan and blue cap. He was accompanied by armed operatives of the EFCC.

The former governor and his two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, face 16-count charges bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

The EFCC alleges that Bello misused state funds to acquire several properties in Abuja and Dubai, including a hotel apartment in Burj Khalifa.

The defendants are also accused of transferring millions of dollars to a bank in the United States and possessing unlawfully obtained property.

Read also: RipplesMetrics: Nigerians can have 24hrs electricity if each person pays N73,000 annually

Bello’s arraignment is the latest development in a long-running saga that has seen him evade capture for several months.

According to the EFCC, Bello and his co-defendants allegedly conspired to misappropriate state funds, which they used to acquire properties and transfer funds to foreign accounts. The properties allegedly acquired by the defendants include:

No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million), Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million) and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million)

The defendants are also accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.

The post Finally, ex-Kogi gov, Yahaya Bello, appears in court for alleged N110.4bn fraud case appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.