Former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello entered a not-guilty plea when he appeared in court on Wednesday to face a 16-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello, along with two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, was arraigned before Justice Maryann Anenih at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama.
The charges stem from allegations of their involvement in a N110 billion fraud case.
Bello, who had been elusive until his surrender to the EFCC on Tuesday, made his court appearance at 9:45 a.m., dressed in a white caftan and blue cap.
The charges, listed under case number CR/7781, include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully acquired property.
The EFCC alleges that Bello misappropriated public funds to acquire several properties. These include a property on Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja (valued at N950 million), one in Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and another on Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Additional properties allegedly purchased with misappropriated funds include a building on Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), a hotel apartment in Dubai worth over AED 5.6 million, another property on Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4 (N60 million), and one on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4 (N310.4 million).
Furthermore, the defendants are accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank in the United States and of possessing over N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited, which the EFCC claims were unlawfully obtained.