Alleged Fraud: Yahaya Bello Pleads Not Guilty to 16-Count Charge

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello pleads not guilty to a 16-count charge of fraud in his arraignment by the EFCC at an Abuja court.

Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, has entered a plea of not guilty to 16 charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

This followed his acceptance of the commission’s invitation on Tuesday.

The EFCC had filed a lawsuit against the former governor, accusing him of involvement in an alleged 110 billion fraud.

Wearing a white kaftan and a blue cap, the former Governor was joined by officials from the EFCC.

He appeared for arraignment before Justice Maryanne Anenih at the FCT High Court.

The former governor, Umar Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu are being prosecuted as the 1st to 3rd defendants in a new N110 billion, 16-count charge filed against them by the EFCC.

Yahaya Bello Appears at FCT High Court Over Fraud Allegations

The commission has granted administrative bail to the other defendants, Oricha and Hudu.

At the most recent hearing on November 14, the EFCC requested that proceedings be postponed to Wednesday, November 27 in their new case against Bello. They noted that there was still time remaining within the initial 30-day period for responding to an earlier summons.

The EFCC, meanwhile, granted Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu administrative bail as co-defendants and requested the court to extend the time for the 1st Defendant’s appearance.