BREAKING: EFCC Files 19 Criminal Counts Against Yahaya Bello

The EFCC files 19 criminal counts against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering totaling N80.2 billion.

Bello faces charges of misappropriating public funds and acquiring property using proceeds of crime.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted an ex-parte order for his immediate arrest and arraignment.

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed 19 criminal counts against Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, accusing him of criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

VerseNews reports that the charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, center on the alleged misappropriation of N80.2 billion in Kogi State funds in February 2016.

The EFCC’s charge sheet, obtained by VerseNews, accuses Bello of converting the funds for personal use, a violation of Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.

Additionally, Bello is accused of using intermediaries to acquire property worth N950 million in Maitama District, Abuja, using proceeds of crime.

Justice Emeka Nwite has granted the EFCC an ex-parte order for Bello’s immediate arrest and arraignment in court. Bello, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, will face charges of money laundering totaling N80.2 billion.

The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite and emphasized the charges involve the diversion of public funds.

The case highlights the ongoing efforts of the EFCC to combat corruption and hold public officials accountable for financial misconduct.

Some of the counts read: “That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu (Still at large), sometime in February, 2016, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.

“That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, sometime in 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly procured one Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large) to use the sum of N950,000,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) for the acquisition a property lying, being and situate at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 (c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

“That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, sometime in February, 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly procured one Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large) to use the sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira), for the acquisition a property lying, being and situate at No. 1160, within Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

“That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, sometime between 2018 to 2020, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court indirectly procured one Yakubu Siyaka Adegbenga, Iyadi Sadat and Abba Adaudu to use the sum of N920,000,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Twenty Million Naira), for the acquisition a property lying, being and situate at No.2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja,which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

“That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, sometime in 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court indirectly procured one Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, Rabiu Musa Tafada Global Ventures and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large) to use the sum of N170,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Seventy Million Naira) for the acquisition of a property lying, being and situate at block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

“That you Yahaya Adoza Bello sometime in between, 2022 and 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court indirectly procured E-Traders International Limited, Aleshua Solutions Services, Whales Oil and Gas, Forza Oil and Gas, Dada Grand Merchant Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $556,265 (Five Hundred and Fifty Six Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty Five Dollars) to account number 4266644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: Criminal Misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.”