By Abiola Olawale
The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has entered a plea of not guilty to a total of 16 charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello who appeared before Justice Maryann Anenih of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama, said he is not guilty of the allegations of financial misconduct levelled against him.
The New Diplomat reports that Yahaya Bello appeared for a court trial on Wednesday alongside two other defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
The defendants faced allegations of involvement in a fraud amounting to N110 billion.
It would be recalled that the latest charges slammed against Bello and other defendants border on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including those located at 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).
Also, the defendants were accused of allegedly transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoke Business Solution Limited.
