The former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Bello was arraigned as the trial commenced before Justice Maryann Anenih at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama.

Bello appeared in court alongside two other defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, facing allegations of N110.4 billion fraud.

The charges against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

The EFCC alleges that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, such as No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).

Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury include Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).

The defendants were also accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.