The Federal Government has filed new 16 counts against the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in connection with an alleged criminal breach of trust totaling ₦110,446,470,089.
This amount was allegedly misappropriated from the Kogi State treasury to purchase properties in upscale areas within the Federal Capital Territory and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Bello, who is already facing a separate 19 counts brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, will now appear in court alongside two officials from the Kogi State government, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha.
The Charges:
– _Count 1:_ Bello, Oricha, and Hudu agreed to commit an illegal act, specifically criminal breach of trust, in respect of the total sum of ₦110,446,470,089 entrusted to them in 2016.
– _Count 2:_ The defendants used ₦950 million in 2023 to acquire a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
– _Count 3:_ They used ₦100 million in 2021 to acquire a property at No. 1160 Cadastral Zone CO3, Gwarimpa I District, Abuja.
– _Count 4:_ The defendants used ₦920 million in 2020 to acquire a property at No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
– _Count 5:_ They used ₦170 million in 2022 to acquire a property at Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
– _Count 6:_ The defendants used ₦100 million in 2018 to purchase a property at No. 1773 Guzape District, Abuja.
– _Count 7:_ They used another ₦100 million in 2020 to acquire a property at No. A02/176 Block 488B, Lome Street, Wuse 1, Abuja.
– _Count 8:_ The defendants used ₦66 million in 2020 to acquire a property at No. 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 at No. 13 Citiscape-Sharriff Plaza, Abuja.
– _Count 9:_ They used ₦550 million in 2020 to acquire a property at No. 2934 A Cadastral Zone A06, also known as No. 1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abuja.
– _Count 10:_ The defendants used ₦650 million in 2021 to purchase a property at No. 1058, Measuring 1450.77 sqm in Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2, also known as No. 2 Durban Street Abuja.
– _Count 11:_ They used 5,698,888 Dirhams in 2022 to acquire a property located at Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai.
– _Count 12:_ The defendants used ₦60 million in 2016 to acquire a property at Block 18 (337) Flat B Gwelo street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
– _Count 13:_ They dishonestly used ₦310,443,450 in 2017 to renovate a property at No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
– _Count 14:_ The defendants dishonestly sent $570,330 in 2021 to account No. 4266644272 domiciled with TD Bank, United States of America.
– _Count 15:_ They sent $556,265 in 2021 to account No. 4266644272 domiciled with TD Bank, United States of America.
– _Count 16:_ Bello alone was alleged to have had under his control ₦677,848,000 unlawfully obtained from Bespoque Business Solutions Limited between 2017 and 2018 in Abuja.
These charges are in violation of sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and are punishable under Section 312 of the same law.
