Alleged N80.2 Billion Money Laundering: EFCC to Arraign Yahaya Bello on April 18

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign former Kogi State governor Yahaya Adoza Bello before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, April 18, 2024. He will stand trial alongside three other suspects: Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, facing 19-count charges related to money laundering amounting to N80,246,470,088.88. The arraignment follows a botched attempt earlier on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, to arrest Yahaya Bello at his residence in Abuja.

Bello's arraignment follows a court-issued warrant of arrest and enrollment order granted to the EFCC on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. One of the charges against Bello states that he conspired with others in February 2016 to convert N80,246,470,088.88, which he reasonably should have known was from unlawful activities like criminal breach of trust.

Another charge (Count 17) accuses Yahaya Bello of aiding E-Traders International Limited to conceal N3,081,804,654.00 in an Access Bank Plc account between July 26, 2021, and April 6, 2022, knowing it was proceeds of unlawful activity. Count 18 alleges that Bello indirectly facilitated the transfer of $570,330.00 to a TD Bank account in the United States, also believed to be from criminal breach of trust.

The EFCC faced resistance while trying to execute the arrest warrant against Bello on April 17, 2024. The current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, breached the security cordon around Bello's residence and escorted him away in his official vehicle. Despite this, the EFCC maintained restraint and awaited Bello's arraignment on April 18, 2024.

According to the commission, it's crucial to emphasize that Bello is not exempt from the law and will be brought to justice promptly.