The arraignment of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for alleged N80 billion money laundering charges was stalled on Friday due to the absence of his lawyers in court. Bello was slated for arraignment on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.
According to reports, Bello informed the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, that he was notified of the arraignment in the late hours of November 28, and therefore couldn’t inform his lawyers. Justice Nwite ruled that it would be in the interest of justice for the former governor’s counsel to be present .
This development comes after the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned Bello’s trial to December 10, while remanding him in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Bello had earlier pleaded “not guilty” to the 16-count charge brought against him by the EFCC.
The former governor faces charges related to the mismanagement of state funds, as well as accusations of embezzlement and abuse of office. The EFCC had initially filed 19 charges against Bello, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offenses amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.
In a related development, the EFCC had filed fresh charges against Bello, accusing him of N110 billion fraud. The fresh charges, dated September 25, increased the total amount involved to N110,446,470,89.
