The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, December 13, 2024, granted bail of N500 million to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Bello is facing a 19-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and laundering of ₦80,246,470,089.88 billion belonging to the people of Kogi State.
He is accused of looting the funds during his eight-year tenure and diverting same to acquire property at home and abroad.
The alleged offences contravene Section 18(a) and are punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
The governor, who drew the ire of the court by shunning several summons to appear for arraignment and was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April, surrendered himself for trial in November.
At the commencement of proceedings on Friday, Dr.Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) led a team of lawyers including Olukayode Enitan SAN, CE SAN, TD, JA, A.O Mohammed, A.S Wara Esq, JB and MB for the Prosecution.
The defence was represented by J.B DAUDU SAN, Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN, P. B DAUDU SAN, Adedeji Adedipe SAN, A.S ALIYU, Z.E ABAS., S.A.ABAS, Abdulhakeem Audu Esq, A.M Adoyi, Precious Andrew.
Upon announcement of appearances, Pinheiro informed the court that the matter was adjourned for arraignment and that he had filed a motion for abridgment of time from the earlier date of 21st January 2025. But he applied for the withdrawal of the said application as it had been overtaken by events.
The court granted the application, and the motion for abridgment of time for arraignment was accordingly struck out.
Bello was arraigned, and the 19 counts in the Charge were read to him.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large), sometime in February 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of ₦80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-Nine Naira, Eighty-Eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.”
Other charges include alleged fraudulent transactions involving billions of naira and foreign currency, carried out between 2016 and 2023 through various companies.
He pleaded not guilty.
Dauda then apologised to the court for Bello’s failure to honour the previous summons for his appearance for arraignment.
He clarified that the defendant’s actions were based on a challenge to the court’s jurisdiction and not out of disrespect to the Honourable Court.
“My lord, I am apologising on behalf of the defendant for any perceived disrespect toward the court in the past.
“For the record, my lord, I wish to apologise for any impression that the defendant refused to appear before your Lordship. He directed his former counsel to challenge the court’s jurisdiction, which led the matter up to the Supreme Court. This was not an act of disrespect but a procedural move,” Dauda added.
In further persuasion for the grant of bail, the senior counsel highlighted the Defendant’s status as a two-term governor and assured the court that the defendant would appear for trial on all adjourned dates and would not jump bail.
Daudu added that having held many high-esteem positions in the legal profession, he could, “with all humility and sincerity,” assure the court of the defendant’s commitment to standing trial.
“The defendant, a two-term governor of Kogi State, holds the court in the highest regard. I assure this honourable court that he will appear for trial on all adjourned dates, barring sickness or death,” he added.