The former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.
Bello was penalized on Wednesday, November 27, before trial by Justice Maryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, alongside two other defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
The defendants are accused of being involved in a fraud scheme amounting to N110.4 billion.
The charges against the defendants, labeled CR/7781, encompass conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of property obtained unlawfully.
The EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury, included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
The defendants are also alleged to have transferred $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and to possess property obtained through unlawful means, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.
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