Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is expected to appear before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, following a public summons issued by the court. The summons comes as part of a case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has filed 16 fresh charges related to the alleged misappropriation of N110.4 billion.
Bello is facing these new charges alongside two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu. The EFCC claims that the three men are involved in a serious breach of trust, accusing them of misusing funds entrusted to them during Bello’s time as governor.
Previously, the EFCC had struggled to serve the former governor with the charges, prompting the commission to apply for a public summons. In response, Justice Maryanne Anenih ordered the EFCC to publish the summons in a widely-read newspaper and to post copies at Bello’s last known address as well as in visible places around the court premises. The court hopes this will ensure Bello’s attendance at the upcoming arraignment.
This is not the first time Yahaya Bello has faced legal issues related to financial misconduct. He is currently involved in another case before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. In that case, Bello is dealing with 19 charges, including money laundering and misappropriation of N80.2 billion. He has repeatedly failed to appear for his arraignment in that case, missing five scheduled court dates. His absence led Justice Nwite to issue an arrest warrant against him in April 2024.
In this new case, the court has warned that Bello must appear to answer the latest accusations. The EFCC remains committed to prosecuting the case, which has become one of the most significant fraud allegations against a former state governor in recent years.
