By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi State, in court on Wednesday to face charges on alleged financial fraud and misconduct during his tenure.
Intel Region reports earlier that the anti-graft arrested Yahaya Bello on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, with ongoing investigations into alleged fraud during his tenure.
“Yahaya Bello will be ferried to court tomorrow (Wednesday) to commence trial,” a top official told SaharaReporters.
Following his arrest, he is having a session with investigators of the Commission. He is also being detained at the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja,” SaharaReporters had learnt from a top source.
Bello, who served as governor from 2016 to 2023, faces charges related to the mismanagement of state funds, as well as accusations of embezzlement and abuse of office.
The EFCC had initially filed 19 charges against the former Kogi governor, along with his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.
In the fresh charges dated September 25, the total amount involved is N110,446,470,89.00.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, had dismissed the oral bail applications of Abdulsalam Hudu and Umar Oricho, who are co-defendants of Yahaya Bello in the N110.4billion fraud case preferred again them by the EFCC.
Justice Maryanne Anenih dismissed the oral bail, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Bello, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu were listed as first to third defendants.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih, the counsel for the EFCC said the order of the court, given on October 3, had not elapsed.
“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the November 27,” he told the court.
He also noted that the November 20 date earlier given was not convenient for the prosecution counsel.