The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Yahaya Adoza Bello, former governor of Kogi State, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The trio faced a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.
One of the charges alleged that Bello and his co-defendants misused ₦5,698,888 dirhams in 2022 to purchase property at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE. Another charge accused Bello of unlawfully obtaining ₦677,848,000 from Bespoque Business Solution Limited between 2017 and 2018.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their pleas, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) expressed the prosecution’s readiness to proceed with the trial. However, defense counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) applied for bail on behalf of Bello and Oricha, arguing that the application, filed on November 22, 2024, demonstrated Bello’s willingness to stand trial. He referenced Bello’s compliance with a court summons as evidence of good faith.
Pinheiro opposed the bail request, stating it was premature since it predated the arraignment, rendering it procedurally invalid. He also highlighted Bello’s alleged history of disregarding court orders and emphasized the severity of the charges, which involved over ₦130 billion in public funds allegedly diverted for personal acquisitions. Pinheiro argued that Bello’s political influence posed a risk to the integrity of the trial.
For the third defendant, Abdulsalami Hudu, Pinheiro opposed bail on grounds that Hudu, a cashier during the alleged offenses and now a permanent secretary, might influence witnesses or reoffend. Similarly, he opposed bail for Oricha, citing his ongoing role as Director General at the Government House, which could enable interference with the investigation.
Justice Anenih ordered the defendants’ remand in EFCC custody and adjourned the bail hearing to December 10, 2024.
