Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, has been summoned to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over allegations of criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully acquired property.
The summons, issued by Justice Maryann E. Anenih, alleges that Bello committed the offences between 2016 and 2023.
According to court documents, Bello is accused of violating Section 311 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963, which deals with criminal breach of trust and is punishable under Section 312. Additionally, he is charged under Section 319A for allegedly possessing property suspected to have been obtained through unlawful means.
The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made the summons public via their X handle on Friday, stating that Bello must appear before High Court No. 3, Maitama, on November 14, 2024, at 9 a.m.
This development comes after the EFCC declared Bello wanted and filed fresh charges against him, accusing him of N110 billion fraud. Initially, the EFCC had filed 19 charges against Bello, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80.2 billion ¹[3).
In a recent interview on Arise TV’s Morning Show, EFCC Director of Public Affairs Wilson Uwujaren expressed skepticism about Bello’s intentions, stating, “That is enough to convince Nigerians that his presence at the EFCC on the 18th of September was more of a stunt, not really that he wanted to abide by the rule of law.”
Bello’s visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja last month, accompanied by current Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, did not result in his interrogation. The EFCC’s attempt to arrest him in September was also unsuccessful.
