THE Federal Government has brought a new 16-count charge against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
This charge, filed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, relates to criminal breach of trust involving the sum of N110.4 billion.
The allegations contravene Sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and are punishable under Section 312 of the same law.
Bello faces these 16 charges alongside two Kogi State officials, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha, who are also implicated.
The defendants are accused of utilizing state funds from the Kogi State treasury to purchase properties in upscale areas both within the FCT and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Charges:
Count One alleges that Bello, Oricha, and Hudu conspired in 2016 in Abuja to commit an illegal act of criminal breach of trust concerning the total amount of N110,446,470,089.00 (One Hundred and Ten Billion, Four Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty-Nine Naira).
Count Two claims the defendants used N950 million in 2023 for the purchase of a property known as No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
Count Three accuses them of using N100 million for the acquisition of a property at No. 1160 Cadastral Zone CO3, Gwarimpa I District, Abuja, in 2021.
Count Four states they used N920 million for a property known as No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja, in 2020.
Count Five alleges the defendants used N170 million for acquiring a property at Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, in 2022.
Count Six claims they spent N100 million on a property at No. 1773 Guzape District, Abuja, in 2018.
Count Seven states another N100 million was used to acquire a property at No. A02/176 Block 488B, Lome Street, Wuse 1, Abuja, in 2020.
Count Eight alleges that in 2020, they spent N66 million for a property located at No. 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 at No. 13 Citiscape-Sharriff Plaza, Abuja.
Count Nine accuses the trio of using N550 million to acquire a property at No. 2934 A Cadastral Zone A06, also known as No. 1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abuja, in 2020.
Count Ten states they used N650 million to purchase a property known as No. 1058, measuring 1450.77 sqm in Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2, also known as No. 2 Durban Street, Abuja, in 2021.
Count Eleven accuses them of using 5,698,888 Dirhams in 2022 for the acquisition of a property at Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Plot 160, Municipality No. 345-7562, Sky View Building No. 401, Floor 4, Dubai, UAE.
Count Twelve claims they used N60 million for a property known as Block 18 (337) flat B Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, in 2016.
Count Thirteen alleges they unlawfully expended N310,443,450.00 to renovate a property at No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, in 2017.
Count Fourteen charges that they sent a total of $570,330.00 to account No. 4266644272 at TD Bank in the United States in 2021.
Count Fifteen states they also sent $556,265.00 to the same TD Bank account in 2021.
Count Sixteen charges that Bello alone had control of N677,848,000 obtained unlawfully from Bespoque Business Solutions Limited between 2017 and 2018 in Abuja.
