In a new development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh charges against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for his alleged involvement in a staggering N110 billion fraud scheme. The anti-graft agency had initially charged Bello and his associates with laundering N80 billion, but the revised charges have now escalated the amount to over N110 billion.
Yahaya Bello, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, faces a 16-count charge filed by the EFCC, accusing them of siphoning funds and purchasing multiple high-end properties across Abuja with stolen public money. The charges, dated September 25, reveal that the accused used their positions to misappropriate vast sums from the state treasury.
The EFCC alleges that between 2017 and 2021, Bello and his co-defendants fraudulently acquired 12 properties in prime locations, including Maitama, Gwarimpa, and Asokoro, Abuja. Some of the properties include:
– N950 million used to purchase a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District.
– N100 million for No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District.
– N920 million for No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro.
– N550 million for a property at No. 2934A Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama District.
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The EFCC also disclosed that in 2021, the defendants dishonestly transferred $570,330 and $556,265 to an account in TD Bank, United States.
According to the charges, Bello and his accomplices breached public trust by misappropriating N110 billion that had been entrusted to them. They allegedly laundered state funds to acquire luxury properties and enrich themselves, violating the Penal Code Law Cap.89 of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
The EFCC claims that Bello and his team also diverted N677 million unlawfully obtained from Bespoque Business Solution Limited for personal gain.
