The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, arraigned the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama.
Bello, who was governor of the state from 2016 to 2024, is facing trial over his alleged complicity in a N110billion fraud.
The anti-graft agency arraigend him alongside two officials of the Kogi State government- Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu- who were cited as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter.
Trial Justice Maryann Anenih remanded the trio in custody of the EFCC, after they pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.
The court subsequently fixed December 10 to rule on separate applications the defendants filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of the case against them.
Even though the ex-governor’s co-defendants were previously on administrative bail, however, following their arraignment on Wednesday, the EFCC prayed the court to allow them to remain in detention.
The agency, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, specifically told the court that Bello, who is the 1st defendant in the matter, repeatedly refused to make himself available for trial.
It told the court that several efforts to secure his presence before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court where he is facing another charge, proved abortive.
Consequently, the Commission opposed a bail application that Bello filed through his legal team that was led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN.
Daudu, SAN, had after the former governor and his co-defendants entered their plea to the charge, drew the attention of the court to a bail application his client filed on 22 November.
In the application he predicated on six grounds, the former governor argued that he enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.
Insisting that he ought to be seen to be innocent of all the allegations the EFCC levelled against him until his guilt is established, Bello, contended that granting him bail would enable him to effectively prepare his defence to the charge.
The defence lawyer told the court that his client was only served with a copy of the charge against him, around 11pm on Tuesday, 26 November.
He said the former governor’s presence in court was in obedience to the summons that was issued on him.
More so, Bello’s lawyer urged the court to ignore EFCC’s claim that his client refused to submit himself for trial.
The prosecution counsel had informed the court that some of the witnesses billed to testify in the matter, were available.
He prayed the court to allow the EFCC to open its case immediately, an application that was opposed by the defence counsel.
Besides, EFCC argued that Bello’s bail application was incompetent since it was filed before the defendants were properly arraigned before the court.
“This court only assumed jurisdiction upon the arraignment of the defendants.
“It is only after arraignment that the bail application can arise and be heard.
“The application is premature, hasty, and contradicts the meaning of bail,” EFCC’s counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, submitted.
The charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.
EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury, included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
Likewise, the defendants were accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.
Meanwhile, candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the last governorship election in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka, has expressed his readiness to furnish the EFCC with evidence in the matter.
Ajaka, who lost the gubernatorial poll to Governor Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who was Bello’s preferred candidate, in a statement he made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, lauded the anti-graft agency over the arrest and prosecution of the defendants.
While insisting on a thorough investigation into how funds belonging to the state was spent from January 2016 to January 2024, the SDP candidate maintained that the decisive action the EFCC took against the ex-governor was a significant move that would ensure accountability and justice “which the people of Kogi State have long deserved.”
However, he argued that for the effort to yield meaningful result, the EFCC must intensify its investigation to uncover solid and irrefutable evidence that would not only sustain prosecution but also ensure a watertight case.
