EFCC To Arraign Yahaya Bello, Nephew Over N80.2billion Money Laundering Today

Yajaya Bello, along with his nephew, Ali Bello, and one Dauda Abdulsalam Hudu, will face charges related to money laundering amounting to N80,246,470,088.88 before Justice Emeka Nwite.

The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a press statement on Wednesday, stating, “Bello’s arraignment is coming on the heels of a warrant of arrest and enrollment order granted the EFCC by the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. ”

The charges against Bello include conspiracy to convert unlawful proceeds, aiding in concealing funds, and indirectly procuring the transfer of funds to offshore accounts.

The first count of the charges reads, ”That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu( Still at large), sometime, in February, 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80, 246,470, 088.88( Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended”.

Count 17 of the charges reads, “That you Yahaya Bello between 26th July 2021 to 6th April 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court aided E-Traders International Limited to conceal the aggreagate sum of N3081,804,654.00( Three Billion, Eighty One Million Eight Hundred and Four Thouand Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) in account numbder 1451458080 domiciled in Access BankPlc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act”.

Count 18 of the charges reads, “That you Yahaya Adoza Bello sometime in November 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly procured E-Traders international Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330.00( Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand , Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars) to account number 4266644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act”.

Oyewale further noted that the EFCC encountered resistance while attempting to execute the warrant of arrest against Yahaya Bello on Wednesday, April 17.

The current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, reportedly intervened and facilitated Bello’s departure from his residence in Abuja using an official vehicle.

The EFCC emphasized its commitment to upholding the law, stating that Bello is not exempt from justice and will be brought to face the charges as soon as possible.

“The security cordon around the former governor’s residence in Abuja was breached by the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, who ensured that the suspect was spirited away in his official vehicle,” Oyewale said.

“As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment on Thursday, April 18, 2024. It is necessary to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible.”

KanyiDaily recalls that yesterday, EFCC operatives raided the Abuja residence of Yahaya Bello, in Wuse Zone 4, Federal Capital Territory