In a landmark legal maneuver, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made its decisive move on Thursday, March 14, 2024, as it brought forth former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, into the judicial spotlight.
The scene unfolded at the esteemed Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, presided over by the honorable Justice James Omotosho, where Bello found himself embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle, accompanied by his nephew, Ali Bello, alongside Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu.
The allegations levied against this quartet by the EFCC are nothing short of staggering, totalling a colossal N84 billion in purported money laundering activities.
This multifaceted indictment encompasses charges of breach of trust and misappropriation of funds, culminating in an eye-watering sum of N84,062,406,089.88 (Eighty-four Billion, Sixty-two Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand, Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eight Kobo).
To facilitate the inclusion of Yahaya Bello within the ambit of this legal proceeding, the prosecution, represented by the esteemed Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, apprised the court of an application dated February 5, 2024, seeking the amendment of charges against the defendants.
This petition, filed expeditiously on the same day, implored the court to allow the amended charges to be presented to the defendants for their plea.
Despite objections raised by the counsels to Ali Bello and Suleiman, the first and second defendants respectively, the presiding judge, Justice Omotosho, acceded to the prosecution’s request, underscoring the gravity of the charges at hand.
The crux of the charges is encapsulated in count one, which alleges a conspiracy among the accused to convert a staggering sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eight Kobo).
This sum, purportedly derived from unlawful activities, constitutes a grave violation of Section 18(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended, punishable under Section 15(3) of the same statute.
While Yahaya Bello and Hudu remain at large, Ali Bello and Suleiman, the first and second defendants respectively, stood before the court and vehemently pleaded not guilty to all charges leveled against them.
As the trial progressed, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, called upon the fourth Prosecution Witness, Yakubu Gana, who served as counsel to the property owner and seller involved in a transaction allegedly orchestrated by Ali Bello and Suleiman on behalf of ex-governor Yahaya Bello.
Gana’s testimony provided a riveting glimpse into the intricate negotiations and clandestine dealings surrounding the purchase of a property located in Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, valued at N950 million.
According to Gana, the transaction unfolded over the course of two weeks, with the buyers expressing a preference for cash payments in dollars.
This revelation sheds light on the opaque nature of the financial transactions under scrutiny, as Gana recounted his visit to a bureau de change office in Zone 4, adjacent to Sheraton (now Abuja Continental Hotel), where he bore witness to the exchange of dollars concealed within ‘Ghana must go’ bags.
Further elucidating the intricacies of the transaction, Ramalan Jibril Abdullahi, the lawyer representing Ali Bello and Suleiman, testified as the fifth prosecution witness.
Abdullahi emphasized his role in conducting due diligence on the property in question, underscoring the meticulous scrutiny applied throughout the procurement process.
In a bid to bolster its case, the prosecution sought to tender the property’s title documents as evidence. However, Justice Omotosho, exercising due diligence, directed the prosecution to formally apply to the defendants before proceeding. Consequently, the matter was adjourned to March 28, 2024, signaling the continuation of what promises to be a riveting legal saga, with the EFCC at the helm of a relentless pursuit of justice.
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