Kogi gov’s nephew arraigned for N10bn fraud

A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has remanded Ali Bello, a nephew to Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and one Dauda Sulaiman in prison pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions

They were remanded upon arraignment alongside the Cahier of Kogi State House Administration, Abdulsalami Hudu, (now at large), on a 10-count charge of misappropriation and money laundering.

Bello and Sulaiman are accused of fraudulently withdrawing a sum of N10.2 billion from the Kogi State treasury, which they delivered to a Bureau de Change operator, Rabiu Tafada in Abuja to keep or change to foreign currencies for personal gains.

One of the charges read: “That you, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalami Hudu (now at large)between January and December 2021, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured Rabiu Usman Tafada to take possession of the total sum of N5,865,756,800 (Five Billion, Eight Hundred and Sixty Five Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation from the treasury of Kogi State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (c), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act”.

Another count reads: “That you, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman And Abdulsalami Hudu (now at large) between January and December 2021, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court aided Rabiu Usman Tafada to retain the total sum of N2,509,650,000.00 (Two Billion Five Hundred and Nine Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: Criminal Misappropriation from the treasury of Kogi State Government and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (a) 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act”.

They however pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC.

Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

Counsel to the second and third defendants, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, told the court of his application for the bail of the defendants.

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum N1 billion each and two sureties who are to provide a bond of N2 billion each and have a landed property valued at N500 million.

The judge ordered that the title of the properties should be registered with the chief registrar of the court.

Justice Omotosho said each of the sureties and the defendants should submit their bank statements and international passports to the chief registrar of the court, adding that the sureties must also produce an affidavit of means and evidence of tax clearance for at least 3 years.

The judge, thereafter, sent the defendants to Kuje correctional centre, Abuja, pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions and adjourned the matter till February 6, 2023, for hearing.

The Star

Segun Ojo