Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and his co-defendants, Shuabu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, have pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts of alleged fraud and money laundering preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The trio were arraigned before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The defendants were accused of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
According to the charge, Bello allegedly misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million); No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million); and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million), among other properties.
The defendants were also accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank in the United States and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.
After the charge was read out to him, Bello denied all the allegations.
His counsel, Joseph Daudu, moved a bail application, which the EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed, saying it had expired in October.
Daudu, however, clarified that the bail application was filed on November 22. “My Lord, the bail application is also supported with a written address. Exhibit A, which is the public summons, is very vital, and the appearance of the defendant in court today shows he has respect for the law,” he argued.
Pinheiro, however, objected to the bail application, stating that the prosecution had raised issues that had to do with a matter at the Federal High Court. “The court should not use issues from another court to determine issues before the FCT High Court,” Daudu responded.
The EFCC counsel further objected to the submissions of the defence, stating that the preliminary objection was anchored on three grounds — competence of the application, factual content of the application, and the application of judicial principles and guidance.
Justice Anenih adjourned the case to a later date, pending the determination of the bail application. Bello’s co-defendants, Oricha and Hudu, had earlier been admitted to administrative bail by the EFCC.
