EFCC Tackles Yahaya Bello Over Fresh N110bn Fraud Charges
Following on its claims that the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello is turning the court into an entertainment arena, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has now slammed fresh 16-count charges bordering on fraud against him at an Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja.
The anti-graft agency filed the new charges through its counsels, Kemi Pinheiro, Rotimi Oyedepo both Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and seven other lawyers.
Filing the charges on behalf of the Federal Government, the EFCC also joined one Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu as defendants in the alleged fraud case.
The latest development comes on the heels of Bello’s continuous absence at a Federal High Court, Abuja where he is being tried for alleged fraud to the tune of N80.2 billion during his duty tour as the Lugard House as Kogi state Chief Executive for eight years.
The fresh charge sheet cited late on Wednesday indicated that the Commission has uncovered alleged fresh fraud against the ex-governor to the tune of N110,446,470,089.00.
In part, the charge sheet read; “That you, YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometimes in 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdictions of this Honourable Court agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the total sum N110,446,470,089.00 entrusted to you”.
In recent times, the anti-corruption Commission has expressed frustration at its inability to arraign Bello for prosecution despite the arrest warrant currently hanging on his neck.
