EFCC set to arraign Yahaya Bello over alleged N110bn fraud

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is currently being held at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detention facility in Abuja.

Bello, who was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency in April for his alleged involvement in a N110 billion fraud, was apprehended following multiple failed attempts to arrest him and bring him to trial.

Since the charges were filed, the EFCC had struggled to bring the former governor to court. Initially, the commission filed 19 charges against Bello, his nephews Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering activities totaling over N80 billion. However, the charges were later reduced to 16, with the total amount allegedly laundered rising to over N110 billion. The charges claim that the defendants used the illicit funds to purchase 12 houses in Abuja.

The EFCC’s attempts to arrest Bello had been thwarted by legal maneuvers, including a failed application to prevent his arraignment, which was rejected by Justice Emeka Nwite in July. A subsequent appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in August, which ordered him to surrender himself for trial. Additionally, there were reports that Bello’s successor, Governor Usman Ododo, helped facilitate his escape during a failed raid on his residence by EFCC officials in April. The commission had also been unsuccessful in apprehending him during a visit to their headquarters in September.

Despite these challenges, Bello’s legal team maintained that he had voluntarily visited the EFCC office but was not interrogated, and the commission later clarified that he remained a wanted individual.

Bello was ordered to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja for a fresh 16-count charge on October 24, but he failed to do so, and the court subsequently extended the summons to November 14. When Bello again failed to appear, the court set a final deadline for November 27, threatening to proceed with his arraignment in absentia.

On Tuesday, multiple EFCC sources confirmed that Bello was finally arrested by the commission’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) around 12:59 pm and is being interrogated regarding the charges against him.

EFCC officials stated that Bello would likely be arraigned at the FCT High Court on Wednesday. The commission aims to bring the former governor to court after months of delays in his trial.

As of the time of reporting, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale could not be reached for comment, and Yahaya Bello’s media office did not respond to requests for a statement.