EFCC files new N110 billion fraud charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed fresh charges against wanted former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over fraud worth N110 billion.

The EFCC had initially filed 19 charges against the former Kogi Governor, alongside his cousin Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.

However, in the new 16 charges dated September 25, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, the total amount of the same money laundering offences rose to N110,446,470.89.00.

Bello, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu were named as the first through third defendants.

He and other suspects are said to have used the money to purchase a total of twelve houses in various locations in Abuja.

The trio were accused of committing criminal breach of trust in respect of the total sum of N110,446,470,089.00 entrusted to them.

The EFCC also said that in 2023 in Abuja, while Bello, Oricha and Hudu had the government treasury in their hands, dishonestly used the total sum of N950,000,000.00 for the purchase of a property named No: 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.

The EFCC found that the offence was contrary to Section 311 of the Criminal Procedure Act, Chapter 89 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and was punishable under Section 312 of the same Act.

The commission added: “That Bello, Oricha and Hudu sometime in 2021, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while having sway over the public exchequer, dishonestly applied the total sum of N100,000,000.00 for the acquisition of a property known as No: 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja.”

Furthermore, the anti-corruption agency alleged that the suspects, while having access to the state treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N920,000,000.00 to acquire a property at No: 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

Other properties which the EFCC alleged the defendants acquired while they were in control of the state treasury include Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, purchased for N170,000,000.00 in 2022 and N100 million worth of properties in No 1773 Guzape District, Abuja in 2018; a property valued at N550 million in No: 2934A Cadastral Zone A06, also known as No.1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abuja in 2020, and others.

The EFCC also said that in 2021, the defendants dishonestly transferred separately the sum of $570,330.00 and $556,265.00 to account number 4266644272 located at TD Bank, United States of America.

“That Bello, sometime between 2017 and 2018, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had under your control the total sum of N677,848,000, unlawfully obtained from Bespoque Business Solution Limited,” the charge sheet reads.