The Nigerian Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has brought fresh charges against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, filing a 16-count indictment related to alleged fraud in an FCT High Court. The new charges also name Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu as co-defendants.
These developments follow Bello’s absence at a Federal High Court in Abuja, where he faced trial for alleged fraud amounting to N80.2 billion. The EFCC’s new charge sheet claims to have uncovered additional fraud against Bello, totaling N110,446,470,089.00.
The charge sheet states: “That you, YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA, and ABDULSALAMI HUDU, sometimes in 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, agreed amongst yourselves to commit an illegal act, specifically criminal breach of trust regarding the total sum of N110,446,470,089.00 entrusted to you.”
The case is a significant escalation in ongoing legal challenges faced by the former governor, as the EFCC continues its efforts to tackle corruption within the country.
