JUST IN: Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Again Fails To Appear In Court Over N80Billion Fraud Trial

Former Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has once again failed to appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja for his arraignment on corruption charges.

The case was brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Previously, it was reported that the former governor had, through his lawyer, agreed to appear in court on the last adjourned date.

Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, gave the undertaking to Justice Emeka Nwite on May 10, shortly after the court rejected the defendant’s request for suspension of trial.

He told the court that the former governor was not afraid of arraignment but was afraid for his safety at the hands of EFCC in Abuja.

However, Bello again failed again to show up for his arraignment on Thursday.

Following his absence in court the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to June 27, 2024 for his arraignment.

Recalls, on April 18 that the anti-corruption agency had filed 19 criminal counts before a Federal High Court in Abuja against the former governor bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

The charge filed at the Federal High Court 9, with charge FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, dated March 9, 2024, has Yahaya Adoza Bello as the sole Defendant while the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant.

The EFCC in the charge papers obtained by SaharaReporters, accused the ex-governor of conversion of a total of N80,246,470,089.88 being funds belonging to the Kogi State government in February 2016 to himself, an offence which is contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.

Bello was also accused of indirectly using one Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu to use the sum of N950 million being proceeds of crime for the acquisition of a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.

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