FG Files Fresh N110.4bn Fraud Charges Against Yahaya Bello

The Federal Government has filed new charges against the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, over an alleged criminal breach of trust amounting to N110,446,470,089. The charges, presented before a Federal High Court in Abuja, accuse Bello of a criminal breach of trust, violating Sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and are punishable under Section 312.

Bello, who has taken the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Supreme Court for declaring him wanted, faces these fresh charges as the EFCC intensifies its pursuit. The anti-graft agency has also charged Bello with an N80.2 billion money laundering case.

The ex-governor, previously facing a 19-count charge, is now dealing with an additional 16-count charge, which includes two Kogi State officials, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha. According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly used Kogi State funds to acquire properties in upscale areas of Abuja and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Key Allegations:

Count one of the charges alleges that Bello, Oricha and Hudu, sometime in 2016 in Abuja, agreed among themselves “to cause to be done an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the total sum of N110, 446, 470, 089.00 (One Hundred and Ten Billion, Four Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty-Nine Naira) entrusted to you”.

In count two, the defendants were said to have used the total sum of N950 million in 2023 “for the acquisition of a property known as No: 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja”.

Count three accused the defendants of using N100 million “for the acquisition of a property known as No: 1160 Cadastral Zone CO3, Gwarimpa I District, Abuja” in 2021.

In court four, they were accused of using N920 million “for the acquisition of a property known as No: 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja” in 2020.

The defendants, in count five, allegedly used N170 million “for the acquisition of a property known as Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja” in 2022.

In count six, they allegedly used N100 million to purchase a property known as No: 1773 Guzape District, Abuja in 2018.

In count seven, they allegedly used another N100 million “for the acquisition of a property known as No: A02/176 Block 488B, Lome Street, Wuse 1, Abuja” in 2020.

In count eight, they were said to have in 2020, used N66 million “for the acquisition of a property known as No: 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 at No. 13 Citiscape-Sharriff Plaza, Abuja.”

Count nine alleges that the trio used N550 million for the acquisition of a property known as No: 2934 A Cadastral Zone A06 also known as No.1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abuja”, in 2020.

In count 10, they were said to have used N650 million to purchase a property known as No: 1058, Measuring 1450.77 sqm in Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2 also Known as No. 2 Durban Street Abuja, in 2021.

In count 11, the accused persons were said to have used 5,698,888 Dirhams in 2022 “for the acquisition of a property located at Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, lying, being and situated at Plot 160, Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No.401, Floor4, Dubai U.A. E.”

Count 12 accused the defendants of using N60 million for the acquisition of a property known as Block 18 (337) Flat B Gwelo street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja in 2016.

In count 13, the defendants were alleged to have “dishonestly used the total sum of N310, 443,450.00 to tastefully renovate a property known as No: 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja” in 2017.

Count 14 alleges that the defendants “dishonestly sent the total sum of $570,330.00 to account No. 4266644272 Domiciled with TD Bank, United States of America” in 2021.

In count 15, they were also alleged to have “sent the total sum of $556,265.00 to account No. 4266644272 domiciled with TD Bank, United States of America”, in 2021.

In count 16, Bello alone was alleged to have had under his control, “the total sum of N677,848,000 unlawfully obtained from Bespoque Business Solutions Limited” sometime between 2017 and 2018, in Abuja.

However, Bello’s legal team, led by Mr. A.M. Adoyi, requested the Federal High Court to halt the arraignment, citing an ongoing appeal at the Supreme Court.

They argued that proceeding with the arraignment could undermine the Supreme Court’s decision, as the appeal seeks to overturn the arrest warrant issued against Bello on April 17.