Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello Pleads Not Guilty To Fresh 19-Count Charge

The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Friday pleaded not guilty to a fresh 19-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Bello, who appeared in court from Kuje prison, denied involvement in an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

The EFCC alleged that Bello, who governed Kogi State between 2016 and 2024, used five proxies to acquire luxury properties in highbrow areas of Abuja and Dubai with illicit funds.

The commission also claimed he attempted to conceal over N3 billion by transferring it to proxies and wired $700,000 to a U.S. bank account in violation of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

The EFCC named several associates, including Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, and others: Dauda Suleiman, Shehu Bello, Rabiu Musa, and Abdulsalam Hudu (currently at large), as accomplices.

The commission stated that Bello’s actions violated sections 18(a) and (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act and are punishable under section 15 of the same law.

Bello’s legal team, led by former NBA president J.B. Daudu, SAN, requested bail, assuring the court of his compliance with trial proceedings.

Daudu highlighted Bello’s status as a two-term governor who rarely traveled during his tenure, emphasizing his respect for the court.

He explained Bello’s earlier absence, stating it was a legal attempt to challenge the court’s jurisdiction, not an act of defiance.

Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, did not oppose the bail request but urged the court to impose strict conditions to ensure Bello’s attendance at future trials.

Previously, Justice Maryann Anenih of an Abuja High Court had remanded Bello in Kuje prison on separate charges.