Court overrules Bello in N110b embezzlement suit, as EFCC calls first witness
The trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, over an alleged N110 billion fraud commenced as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called its first witness.
The case, heard in Abuja, involves Bello and two Kogi State officials, Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, facing a 16-count charge of money laundering, conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust.
Justice Maryann Anenih overruled objections from the defense, which claimed that the EFCC had not provided all necessary evidence.
According to Vanguard, the court proceeded with testimony from Fabian Nwaora, a real estate businessman and owner of EFAB Property.
Nwaora testified that in 2020, his company sold a Maitama, Abuja property for N550 million to Shehu Bello.
In 2023, Bello returned the documents, stating the EFCC was investigating the transaction. Nwaora later refunded the money to an EFCC-designated account.
The EFCC alleges that Bello misused state funds to acquire multiple properties, including prime real estate in Abuja and luxury apartments in Dubai.
The defendants also reportedly transferred large sums to foreign banks, including TD Bank in the U.S.
The court had previously remanded Bello in Kuje prison before granting him bail of N500 million with three sureties. The trial is adjourned to April 3, 2025.
This high-profile case continues to attract national attention as the EFCC seeks to prove its allegations of large-scale corruption during Bello’s tenure as governor.
Source: Opera News
