The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello to court for allegedly diverting around N100 billion.
The Chief of Staff to the current Kogi State Governor, Alli Bello, and a man named Daudu Suleiman were also re-arraigned by the EFCC for the same offense.
However, both Alli and Suleman pleaded not guilty to the seventeen-count amended charge in front of Justice James Omotoso at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Alli’s lawyer, Abubakar Aliyu, objected to the reading of the amended charge, claiming that the EFCC did not follow the proper procedures outlined in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Aliyu argued that they were never given a copy of the amended charge.
In response, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the defendant’s arguments, stating that the court had already approved the amendment.
Justice James Omotoso mentioned that he had expedited the hearing process and instructed that objections should be postponed until after the charges were read.
Additionally, he ruled that Alli Bello and Suleman should maintain the same bail conditions as previous charges.
The first accusation involved former Governor Bello, Alli, and Suleman collaborating in September 2015 to convert N80,246,470,089 for personal gain.
They were also charged with violating Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 by knowingly using money obtained through fraud and breach of public trust.
Furthermore, Alli and Suleman were accused of hiding millions of naira with Rabiu Musa Tafada, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator under Global Venture in Abuja.
