The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja was cordoned off by heavily armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, was arraigned in court today.
Bello, dressed in a white Babanriga and beaming with smiles, entered the courtroom accompanied by his lawyers and supporters, who chanted praises of “Saaki”. The former governor had submitted himself to the EFCC on Tuesday, paving the way for his arraignment.
The EFCC had declared Bello wanted in connection with an N80.2 billion money laundering charge. He is also facing a separate charge of N110.4 billion fraud. The anti-graft agency had been investigating Bello’s alleged financial misdeeds during his tenure as governor of Kogi State.
Justice Maryann Anenih is presiding over the case, and the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that Bello would be docked at the FCT High Court. The arraignment is a significant development in the EFCC’s efforts to hold public officials accountable for corruption.
