A High Court sitting in Maitama, Federal Capital Territory, has issued a public summons to Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, to appear before the court on 24 October 2024.
Presiding Judge Maryanne Anenih directed Bello to face a 16-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former governor had previously been declared wanted after Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an arrest warrant against him on April 17.
Bello is already facing 19 charges related to money laundering and misappropriation of N80.2 billion before Justice Nwite’s court but has failed to appear for his arraignment on five separate occasions.
The EFCC, in the new charge, alleges Bello committed a criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110,446,470,089, violating sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963. If convicted, Bello will face penalties under Section 312 of the same law.
Justice Maryanne Anenih, before whom the new charges have been filed, ruled earlier today that Bello must present himself before the court to defend the latest allegations of criminal breach of trust involving him.
The summons follows an application by the EFCC, which stated that it had been unable to serve Bello with the new charges filed on 24 September 2024.
The EFCC claimed that Bello and his co-defendants misappropriated funds entrusted to them.
In her ruling, Justice Anenih directed the EFCC to publish the public summons in a widely circulated newspaper and to paste copies of the summons at Bello’s last known address and in visible locations within the court premises.
Bello was expected to appear in court on Thursday for arraignment on the fresh charges, but his absence once again stalled the proceedings.
The EFCC continues to pursue the case, which remains one of the most high-profile fraud allegations against a former governor in recent times.
Eighteen-Eleven Media