In the midst of a N80.2 billion fraud lawsuit brought against him, former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello is said to have visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On Friday, September 18, 2024, Ohiare Michael, the Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, revealed this in a statement.
Remember that the fraud case against the former governor was not suspended by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This came after the former governor missed four sessions because of legal issues brought up by his attorneys.
EFCC Case
Yahaya Adoza Bello and others were charged under Section 18(a) and Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended, with plotting to convert N80,246,470,088.88, purportedly obtained through a criminal breach of trust, in February 2016.
The former governor refuted the accusations.
Because the former governor had not shown up, the anti-graft agency had also acquired a bench warrant (arrest order) against him from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Despite an appeal by Bello’s attorneys, the trial judge decided that the criminal prosecution had to proceed as scheduled.
Separate sessions of the Appeal Court, however, ordered Bello to appear in court at the Abuja High Court and suspended all proceedings in the petitions he filed in the Kogi State High Court.
Bello’s Statements
After conferring with his family, legal counsel, and political friends, Bello accepted the invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, according to Ohiare Michael.
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He said, “The former governor has always sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process. He has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority.”
He emphasized that Bello had been properly represented by his legal team at each session and that the case had been brought before a court with authority.
Since the former governor has nothing to conceal and nothing to fear, it is crucial that he accept the EFCC’s request to clear his record.
Separate sessions of the Appeal Court, however, ordered Bello to appear in court at the Abuja High Court and suspended all proceedings in the petitions he filed in the Kogi State High Court.
Bello’s Statements
After conferring with his family, legal counsel, and political friends, Bello accepted the invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, according to Ohiare Michael.
He said, “The former governor has always sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process. He has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority.”
He emphasized that Bello had been properly represented by his legal team at each session and that the case had been brought before a court with authority.
Since the former governor has nothing to conceal and nothing to fear, it is crucial that he accept the EFCC’s request to clear his record.
The former governor of Kogi State is scheduled to be arraigned while his nephew Alli Bello, Daudu Suleiman, and another person are being tried for fraud.
They are charged with embezzling N80.2 billion in state funds.
Yahaya Bello was identified in that instance as an accomplice in a few of the counts.
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