The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, before the Federal High Court in Abuja today.
Bello will face a 19-count charge bordering on alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
The arraignment comes after months of hide-and-seek, with Bello finally surrendering himself to the EFCC last Tuesday. He was subsequently docked before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday, where Justice Maryanne Anenih remanded him in EFCC custody after he pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC alleged that Bello, along with his nephew Ali Bello, and two others, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu, engaged in money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds.
The anti-graft agency obtained a warrant for Bello’s arrest on April 17, after he repeatedly failed to appear before the court for his arraignment.
However, the attempt to execute the arrest warrant was thwarted by the incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, until he submitted himself on Tuesday.