The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to allegations of ₦80 billion fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello’s arraignment took place before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges that include 19 counts of alleged money laundering.
At the hearing, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, representing the EFCC, informed the court of the Commission’s decision to withdraw an earlier application for an abridgment of the initial date set for the arraignment.
According to Pinheiro, the application had become irrelevant due to intervening developments.
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Counsel for the defendants, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not raise any objections to the withdrawal of the application. Consequently, Justice Nwite granted the EFCC’s request and struck out the application.
However, the court granted bail to the Ex Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello
Justice Emeka Nwite who presided over the court session ordered that the former governor must produce two sureties in like sum.
He said the two sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and must be owners of Properties in Abuja.
In addition, the title documents of the properties, which must be in Abuja, will be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
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EFCC had arraigned Bello before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on a 19-count charge, bordering on alleged money laundering.
At the resumed hearing, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, notified the court of his intention to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.
He said the application had been overtaken by events.
Counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object to this and Justice Emeka Nwite, accordingly granted the request, striking out the application.