BREAKING: EFCC to Arraign Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello in Court
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that it will arraign former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, in court on Wednesday.
Bello’s arrest is connected to ongoing investigations into alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor from 2016 to 2023.
According to reports, Bello was detained by the EFCC around 12 pm and is currently undergoing questioning by investigators. The EFCC has confirmed that Bello’s arrest is not a voluntary submission, contrary to reports by some media outlets.
Bello faces charges related to the mismanagement of state funds, as well as accusations of embezzlement and abuse of office. The EFCC had initially filed 19 charges against Bello, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offenses amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.
In September, the EFCC filed fresh charges against Bello, accusing him of N110 billion fraud.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court had dismissed the oral bail applications of Bello’s co-defendants, Abdulsalam Hudu and Umar Oricho.
The Court of Appeal had earlier ordered Bello to present himself before the Federal High Court for arraignment. The Appeal Court justices held that the freeing of Bello from EFCC’s prosecution by a Kogi State High Court was “scandalous”.
