YAHAYA BELLO, LAWYER IN EFCC OFFICE

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has again invited to its office, Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi State, in connection with ongoing investigations into alleged financial misconduct during his tenure.

Bello, who served as governor from 2016 to 2023, went to the EFCC office on Tuesday amid charges related to the mismanagement of state funds, as well as accusations of embezzlement and abuse of office.

He went to the anti-graft agency office with his lawyer on Tuesday morning.

The former governor drove himself in a black Toyota Hilux to the EFCC office with his lawyers.

Earlier in November, it was reported that the EFCC had filed fresh charges against the wanted former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, accusing him of N110 billion fraud.

The EFCC had initially filed 19 charges against the former Kogi governor, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.

In the fresh charges dated September 25, the total amount involved is N110,446,470,89.00.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, had dismissed the oral bail applications of Abdulsalam Hudu and Umar Oricho, who are co-defendants of Yahaya Bello in the N110.4billion fraud case preferred again them by the EFCC.

Justice Maryanne Anenih dismissed the oral bail, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Bello, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu were listed as first to third defendants.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih, the counsel for the EFCC said the order of the court, given on October 3, had not elapsed.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the November 27,” he told the court.

He also noted that the November 20 date earlier given was not convenient for the prosecution counsel.