The former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday.
Bello who has been on the wanted list of the EFCC was arraigned alongside two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, before Justice Maryann Anenih at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama.
The charges include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property, linked to allegations of a N110 billion fraud.
The former governor who has in the past evaded arrest and avoided appearance in court finally ‘surrendered’ to the EFCC on Tuesday.
His case number CR/7781, bears charge of the EFCC against the former governor of 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).
Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury, included 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).
