Federal Government has initiated a new legal proceeding against the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, filing a comprehensive 16-count charge that alleges serious criminal misconduct.
This latest indictment accuses Bello of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds totaling approximately N110,446,470,089.
The charges were officially lodged on Wednesday at a federal high court in Abuja, with two co-defendants named; Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha, both of whom served as officials in the Kogi State government during Bello’s administration.
According to the charge sheet, the allegations suggest that Bello and his associates utilized state treasury funds to purchase multiple properties, both within Nigeria and internationally.
These acquisitions reportedly include high-end real estate in prestigious locations such as Abuja and Dubai.
The detailed charges include Count 1: Bello, Oricha, and Hudu are accused of conspiring in 2016 to illegally mismanage the substantial sum of N110,446,470,089 from the Kogi State treasury, thereby breaching their fiduciary duty.
Count 2: In 2023, they allegedly used N950 million to acquire a property at No: 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
Count 3: The trio purportedly spent N100 million in 2021 on a property located at No: 1160 Cadastral Zone CO3, Gwarimpa I District, Abuja.
Count 4: They are accused of utilizing N920 million in 2020 to purchase a property at No: 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
Count 5: The defendants allegedly allocated N170 million in 2022 for a property acquisition at Block D, Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Count 6: They are also accused of using N100 million in 2018 to secure a property at No: 1773 Guzape District, Abuja.
Count 7: In 2020, they allegedly spent N100 million on a property at No: A02/176 Block 488B, Lome Street, Wuse 1, Abuja.
Count 8: They purportedly used N66 million in 2020 for a property acquisition at No: 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Count 9: The defendants are accused of spending N550 million in 2020 on a property located at No: 2934 A Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama District, Abuja, also referred to as No. 1 Ikogosi Spring Close.
Count 10: In 2021, they allegedly used N650 million to acquire a property at No: 1058, measuring 1,450.77 square meters, in Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2, known as No. 2 Durban Street, Abuja.
Count 11: The trio is accused of using 5,698,888 Dirhams in 2022 to purchase a property in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa district at Sky View Building No. 401, Floor 4.
Count 12: They allegedly allocated N60 million in 2016 for a property acquisition at Block 18 (337), Flat B, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Count 13: In 2017, the defendants reportedly used N310,443,450 for renovations on a property located at No: 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Count 14: They are also accused of transferring $570,330 to an account with TD Bank in the United States in 2021.
Count 15: In a similar transaction, the defendants allegedly transferred $556,265 to the same TD Bank account in 2021.
Count 16: Yahaya Bello stands alone accused of unlawfully controlling N677,848,000 obtained from Bespoque Business Solutions Limited between 2017 and 2018 in Abuja.
This new set of charges adds to the scrutiny surrounding Bello, who is already facing a 19-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The unfolding legal battles spotlight the former governor’s financial dealings during his tenure and raise significant questions about the management of Kogi State’s resources.
