The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to present himself for arraignment, following his evasion of arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court also restrained Bello from taking any further action in his case until he complies with the order.
In addition to the arraignment directive, the Appeal Court set aside a previous judgment delivered by the Kogi State High Court, which had implications for Bello’s ongoing legal battles.
Bello’s whereabouts have been a subject of speculation since the EFCC attempted to arrest him during a raid on his Abuja residence. Reports suggest that Bello may be hiding in the Kogi State Government House, under the protection of Governor Usman Ododo, who allegedly thwarted the EFCC’s initial arrest attempts.
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The EFCC is prosecuting Yahaya Bello for alleged criminal diversion and money laundering of over N80 billion during his tenure as Kogi State Governor. On April 18, 2024, the anti-corruption agency filed 19 criminal charges against Bello at the Federal High Court in Abuja, including criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
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According to the EFCC, Bello is accused of converting N80,246,470,089.88 of Kogi State funds for personal use in February 2016. This offense is contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended. Additionally, Bello is accused of laundering N950 million through associates for the acquisition of property in Abuja.
The court’s order marks a significant development in the high-profile case, intensifying the legal pressure on Bello to face the charges leveled against him.