The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed fresh charges against the wanted former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, accusing him of N110bn fraud.
The EFCC had initially filed 19 charges against the former governor, along with Ali Bello his nephew, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.
However, in the fresh 16 charges dated September 25, 2024, the total sum of the same money laundering offences rose to N110,446,470,089.00.
Bello, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu were listed as first to third defendants. He, alongside other defendants, was alleged to have bought a total of 12 houses in various locations in Abuja with the money.
The trio were alleged to have committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the total sum of N110,446,470,089.00 entrusted to them.
Also, the EFCC said Bello, Oricha and Hudu in 2023, in Abuja, while having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly acquired:
- Property at No: 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja in 2023—N950m
- Property at as No: 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja in 2021—N100m
- Property at No: 2, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja—N920m
- Property at Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja in 2022—N170m
- Property at No 1773 Guzape District, Abuja in 2018—N100m
- Property at No 2934A Cadastral Zone A06 (also known as No.1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abuja in 2020)—N550m
The offences, the EFCC said, 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 EFCC also said the defendants, in 2021, dishonestly separately sent the sum of $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 Honorable Court, had under your control the total sum of N677 848,000 unlawfully obtained from Bespoque Business Solution Limited,” the charge sheet added.
