A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has issued a public summons against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, regarding ongoing allegations of money laundering and corruption brought forward by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The summons, dated October 3, 2024, was made public in a Friday post from the X handle of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission and was signed by signed by Justice Maryann E. Anenih, saying that Bello committed these offences between 2016 and 2023.
According to the court documents, Bello is accused of violating Section 311 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963, which pertains to criminal breach of trust and is punishable under Section 312. He is also charged under Section 319A for allegedly possessing property suspected to have been unlawfully acquired.
The summons states: "A complaint has been made on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, between 2016 and 2023, committed offences including criminal breach of trust and the possession or control of property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained."
Bello is required to appear before “High Court No. 3, Maitama, on November 14, 2024, at 9 a.m.”
This latest development follows the EFCC's declaration of Bello as wanted and the filing of new charges against him, accusing him of a N110 billion fraud. The EFCC had previously filed 19 charges against Bello, along with his nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for alleged money laundering offences amounting to N80.2 billion.
Last month, Bello visited the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja alongside the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, but was not interrogated. The EFCC later referred to his visit as part of a "strategic game plan."
EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, commented on the visit, stating in a television interview: “That is enough to convince Nigerians that his presence at the EFCC on September 18 was more of a stunt, not a genuine intention to comply with the rule of law.”
Additionally, the EFCC attempted to arrest Bello in September, but the effort was unsuccessful.
