Court summons Yahaya Bello for alleged breach of trust and other charges

A former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been summoned to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja regarding allegations of criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully acquired property.

The summons, issued by Justice Maryann E. Anenih, claims Bello committed these offences between 2016 and 2023. Dated October 3, 2024, it was publicized in a post from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on X.

Court documents indicate that Bello is accused of violating Section 311 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 of Northern Nigeria 1963, which pertains to criminal breach of trust, and is punishable under Section 312. He is also charged under Section 319A for allegedly possessing property believed to have been obtained unlawfully.

The summons states: “A complaint has been made on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, between 2016 and 2023… committed offences including criminal breach of trust and possession of property reasonably suspected to be unlawfully obtained.”

Bello is required to appear before “High Court No. 3, Maitama, on November 14, 2024, at 9 a.m.”

The EFCC had previously declared him wanted and recently filed additional charges against him, alleging involvement in a N110 billion fraud. Initially, 19 charges were filed against Bello and others for money laundering offences totaling N80,246,470,088.88. However, fresh charges dated September 25 increased this total to N110,446,470,89.00.

Last month, Bello visited the EFCC headquarters in Abuja alongside the current Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, but was not interrogated. The EFCC later described this visit as a strategic move rather than a genuine effort to comply with legal processes.

EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, commented that it seemed more like a stunt than a commitment to the rule of law.

Additionally, in September, the EFCC attempted to arrest him, but the effort was unsuccessful.