By Abiola Olawale
The Federal High Court Abuja has ruled that the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello be remanded at the detention facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) till December 10.
This is as the presiding judge, Justice Maryanne Anenih adjourned Court proceedings to December 10.
The New Diplomat reports that Bello, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged N110 billion fraud.
However, Bello and the two other defendants pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against them by the EFCC.
After pleading not guilty, he proceeded to file a motion for his bail application to be granted by the court.
Meanwhile, Justice Anenih adjourned Court proceedings to December 10 for a ruling on the bail application by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State.
Justice Anenih added that the defendants are to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.
The New Diplomat reports that the defendants are facing allegations of involvement in a fraud amounting to N110 billion.
It would be recalled that the latest charge slammed against Bello and other defendants borders 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, include 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.
