FG Files Fresh Charges Against Yahaya Bello Over Money Laundering
The Federal Government has filed a fresh 16-count charge against Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The former governor is to face this fresh 16-count charge alongside two officials of the Kogi State government โ Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha.
In he charge filed before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, Bello was accused of criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110.4 billion.
The offence is contrary to Sections 96 and 311 of Penal Code Law Cap.89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963 and punishable under Section 312 of same law.
The defendants were alleged to have used state funds from the Kogi state treasury to acquire properties in highbrow areas within the FCT and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The charges
IN COUNT ONE of the charge alleges that Bello, Oricha and Hudu, sometime in 2016 in Abuja, agreed amongst themselves โto cause to be done an illegal
act to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the total sum of N110,446, 470, 089.00 (One Hundred and Ten Billion, Four Hundred and Forty six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty Nine Naira).
In COUNT TWO, the defendants were said to have used the total sum of N950 million in 2023, โfor the acquisition of a property known as No: 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abujaโ.
COUNT THREE, they accused the defendants of using N100 million โfor the acquisition of a property known as No: 1160 Cadastral Zone CO3, Gwarimpa
I District, Abujaโ in 2021.
In COUNT FOUR, they were accused of using N920 million โfor the acquisition of a property known as No: 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abujaโ in 2020.
In COUNT FIVE, the defendants allegedly used N170 million โfor the acquisition of a property known as Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abujaโ in 2022.
In COUNT SIX, they allegedly used N100 million to purchase a property known as No: 1773 Guzape District, Abuja in 2018.
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In count seven, they allegedly used another N100 million โfor the acquisition of a property known as No: A02/176 Block 488B, Lome Street, Wuse 1, Abujaโ in 2020.
In COUNT EIGHT, they were said to have in 2020, used N66 million โfor the acquisition of a property known as No: 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 at No. 13 Citiscape-Sharriff Plaza, Abujaโ.
In COUNT NINE, It was alleged that the trio used N550 million for the acquisition of a property known as No: 2934 A Cadastral Zone A06 also known as No.1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abujaโ, in 2020.
In COUNT TEN, they were said to have used N650 million to purchase a property known as No: 1058, Measuring 1450.77 sqm in Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2 also Known as NO.2 Durban Street Abuja, in 2021.
In COUNT ELEVEN, the accused persons were said to have used 5,698,888 Dirhams in 2022 โfor the acquisition of a property located at Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, lying, being and situated at Plot 160, Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No.401, Floor4, Dubai U.A. E.โ
In COUNT TWELVE, the defendants were accused of using N60 million for the acquisition of a property known as Block 18 (337) flat B Gwelo street, Wuse Zone 4,
Abuja in 2016.
In COUNT THIRTEEN, the defendants were alleged to have โdishonestly used the total sum of N310,443,450.00 to renovate a property known as No: 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abujaโ in 2017.
In COUNT FOURTEEN, alleges that the defendants โdishonestly sent the total sum of $570,330.00 to account No. 4266644272 Domiciled with TD Bank, United States of Americaโ in 2021.
In COUNT FIFTEEN, they were also alleged to have โsent the total sum of $556,265.00 to account No. 4266644272 domiciled with TD Bank, United States of Americaโ, in 2021.
In COUNT SIXTEEN, Bello alone was alleged to have had under his control, โthe total sum of N677, 848,000 unlawfully obtained from Bespoque Business Solutions Limitedโ sometime between 2017 and 2018, in Abuja.
