By: Balogun Tumininu.
Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has honored an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today, September 18, 2024. This decision came after thorough consultations with his family, legal team, and political allies.
The EFCC’s invitation is related to allegations of money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88, with Bello facing 19-count charges alongside his nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu. Despite previous attempts to arraign him, Bello had refused to take a plea.
In a significant development, the Court of Appeal recently ordered Bello to present himself for arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. This ruling overturned an earlier judgment by Justice Isah Abdullahi Jamil of the Kogi State High Court, which had shielded Bello from prosecution under the guise of enforcing his fundamental rights.
High-profile Nigerians accompanied Bello to the EFCC headquarters, and his media office hopes the Commission will handle the matter professionally and respect his rights as a Nigerian citizen.
InsiderNg will bring you further details on this as it unveils.