Abuja’s Federal Capital Territory High Court has summoned Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi State, on allegations of criminal breach of trust and possessing unlawfully obtained property.
News About Nigeria reports that Justice Maryann E. Anenih issued the summons, alleging that the offences took place between 2016 and 2023.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) publicly announced the summons on their official social media platform, “X,” detailing Bello’s expected court appearance in Abuja on November 14, 2024, at 9 a.m.
Court records accuse Bello of violating Section 311 of the Penal Code Law, which addresses criminal breach of trust, punishable under Section 312. He is also charged under Section 319A for possession of property suspected to be unlawfully acquired.
“Complaint has been made this day on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that you (YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO) sometimes within the year 2016 up until 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit offences to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 311 of Penal Code Law Cap. 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963, Punishable under SECTION 312 of same Law; and Having possession or control of property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained contrary to and punishable under Section 319A of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Northern Nigeria 1963.
“You are hereby summoned to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court of Justice (High Court No. 3) sitting at Maitama on the 14th day of November 2024 at the hour of 9:00 am to answer to the said complaint,” the summons read.
This follows recent EFCC action, where they filed additional charges against Bello, alleging fraud totaling N110 billion—an increase from a previous charge of N80 billion involving money laundering, which also implicated his nephew and two associates.
Last month, Bello visited the EFCC’s Abuja headquarters alongside Kogi State’s current governor, Usman Ododo.
The EFCC, however, referred to the visit as a “strategic stunt,” according to EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, who commented on Arise TV that Bello’s appearance was “more about optics than adherence to the rule of law.” The EFCC’s attempts to apprehend him were reportedly unsuccessful in September.
