At the resumed proceedings on the case on Tuesday, February 14, defence counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, informed the court of two motions filed on February 7, 2023, seeking the withdrawal and replacement of the initial applications of January 26, 2023 on behalf of the defendants.

In the supporting affidavits, Raji prayed the court to grant the first defendant and others bail “on the most liberal terms”, stating that the defendants are law-abiding citizens.

“My lord, it has been more than a year since the EFCC has been investigating them and they were admitted to bail which they have not jumped, even once. In fact, the fourth defendant at a time, got his passport back and was permitted by the EFCC to travel to Mecca and he came back,” he said.

However, prosecution counsel, Kabiru Hussini, relying on a seven-paragraph counter-affidavit, faulted Raji’s claims.

“My lord, our written addresses oppose the application for bail, because we believe that in the interest of this case, the defendants have every tendency to jump bail, because they have all the influence, resources and power to intimidate our witnesses and tamper with evidence in this case,” he said.

Bello and four others were arraigned on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 on 18 counts bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty-One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira).

The other four defendants are Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat and the Kogi First Lady, Rashida Bello (at large).

Count one of the charge reads, “That you, ALI BELLO, ABBA ADAUDU, YAKUBU SIYAKA ADABENEGE, IYADA SADAT, RASHIDA BELLO (at large) sometime in June, 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured E- Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty-One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Count 3 reads, “That you, ALI BELLO, ABBA ADAUDU, RASHIDA BELLO (at large) sometime in November, 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court procured E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty United States Dollars) to account number no; 426-6644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, 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.”

Count 17 reads, “That you, ALI BELLO, ABBA ADAUDU, RASHIDA BELLO (at large) between 26th July, 2021 and 6th April, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured E-Traders International Limited to remove from the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court to account no. 426-664-4272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, the aggregate sum of $570,330 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty United States Dollars) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit; criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Count 18 reads, “That you, ALI BELLO, ABBA ADAUDU, RASHIDA BELLO(at large) between 26th July 2021 and 6th April, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured E-Traders International Limited to remove from the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court to account no. 426-664-4272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, the aggregate sum of $845,852.84 (Eight Hundred and Forty-five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-two United States Dollars) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit; criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(c ) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 ( 3 ) of the same Act.”

The post Tension In Kogi Government House Over Yahaya Bello’s Nephew, Others’ Fraud Scandal appeared first on Business News in Nigeria.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, Februart 8, 2023, arraigned Bello before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

He was docked alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, Rashida Bello (at large) on 18-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3.081 billion.

According to the EFCC, Bello, Adaudu, Adabenege, Sadat and Rashida (at large) sometime in June, 2020 in Abuja procured E-Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3.081 billion, which sum they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity.

Similarly, the defendants sometime in November, 2021 in Abuja procured E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330 to account number no; 426-6644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, which sum they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, and 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.

According to the antigraft agency, the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges preferred against them.

In view of their pleas, Prosecuting Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to give a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case.

However, defence counsel, Ahmed Raji SAN, prayed the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case till 13 February, 2023 and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a Correctional Centre pending the determination of the bail application.

The post Court Remands Yahaya Bello’s Nephew In Prison appeared first on Business News in Nigeria.

They were remanded upon arraignment alongside one Abdulsalami Hudu, Cashier of Kogi State House Administration ( now at large) on a 10-count charge of misappropriation and money laundering

Bello and Sulaiman are accused of fraudulently withdrawing a sum of N10, 270,556,800 (Ten Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-six Thousand Eight Hundred Naira), from the Kogi State treasury, which they delivered to a Bureau de Change operator, Rabiu Tafada in Abuja to keep or change to foreign currencies for personal gains.

One of the charges reads: “That you, ALI BELLO, DAUDA SULEIMAN AND ABDULSALAMI HUDU (NOW AT LARGE)between January and December, 2021, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured RABIU USMAN TAFADA to take possession of the total sum of N5,865,756,800 (Five Billion, Eight Hundred and Sixty Five Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Six Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation from the treasury of Kogi State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (c), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act”.

Another count reads: “That you, ALI BELLO, DAUDA SULEIMAN AND ABDULSALAMI HUDU (NOW AT LARGE) between January and December 2021, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court aided RABIU USMAN TAFADA to retain the total sum of N2,509,650,000.00 (Two Billion Five Hundred and Nine Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: Criminal Misappropriation from the treasury of Kogi State Government and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (a) 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act”.

They however pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC.

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

Counsel to the second and third defendants, Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN, informed the court of his application for the bail of the defendants.

Justice Omotosho admitted the defendants to bail in the sum One Billion Naira each and two sureties who are to provide a bond of N2billion each and have a landed property valued at N500 million. The title of the properties shall be registered with the chief registrar of the Court.

Each of the sureties and the defendants shall submit their bank statements and international passports to the chief registrar of the Court.

The sureties must also produce an affidavit of means and evidence of tax clearance for at least 3 years.

The judge thereafter sent the defendants to Kuje Correctional centre, Abuja pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions and adjourned the matter till February 6, 2023, for hearing.

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In a viral video at the weekend, the governor was seen examining the car, and about to test drive the latest addition to the collection of his array of cars which includes BMW, sports car, Bulletproof Mercedes jeep, and many more.

His latest addition was however coming at a time when all categories of workers on the state were being subjected to percentage salary payments with Local government workers the worst hit.

While the state workers have been going home with 80 percent for the past five months, local government workers have consistently been on a maximum of 40 percent.

Some of the local government workers who spoke on condition of anonymity said his take-home after deduction has stagnated at N4,000 per month for the past seven months!

Recall that last month Local government workers in Kogi state under the aegis of Joint Action Union, JAU threatened to call out its members for a strike following their insistence on 60 percent salaries against the Government’s offer of 40 percent for November salary.

JAU is made up of the various Union Leadership heading Labour Union’s working at the Local Government levels, is presently engaging the Kogi State Government on the payment of October Salary.

The Joint Action Union is made up of the Leadership of NUP, NUT, NULGE, NASU, and MHWUN has In the last couple of days been engaging the State Government to return them to 50% even though the Joint Action Union is insisting on 60% salaries for their members, with Monday’s meeting ending in a deadlock.

A source close to the meeting told our correspondent that members of the Union have lost confidence in their Leadership as JAU has not protected their interest.

Workers under JAU said they have consistently been on percentage payment of salaries ranging from 30% to 35%, with the Joint Action Union in yesterday’s meeting calling for a jack-up to 60% for October Salary.

The source said asides, before the November 2019 governorship election when the various workers at the LGAs received 50% salaries, ever since then, the salaries for workers either as pensioners, teachers, health workers, primary school teachers, local government staff have ranged between 30% to 35%.

The demands by JAU members that have put the Leadership in a tight corner are coming up after many years of sacrifices, with the October salary likely to be the last to be paid centrally by the government before it is handed over to likely elected councils after the December 12 Election.

While the majority of JAU members at the local government level say they look forward to the return of the salaries account to the various local government areas to be handling, lamented that it has been challenging making ends meet with percentage payment.

Lamenting Bello’s ineptitude to govern, another resident who preferred anonymity said

“Our governor must be the worst in the country, and it’s more heartbreaking that he’s a youth. How can a governor be that selfish?.. such that the welfare and security of his people don’t bother him.

To even think he displayed a luxurious car he recently bought, shows how shameless he is, and it’s sad.”

Expressing dismay over the dearth of infrastructural amenities in the North Central State under Bello’s watch, Kogi State Youth Renaissance (KSYR) said while the governor continues to display arrogance and his expensive lifestyle, he’s fond of depriving the Kogi people of basic needs.

“Under Governor Yahaya Bello, healthcare has completely gone moribund with the Federal Medical Centre under lock and key after the attack by hoodlums suspected to be agents of the Bello administration.

“This administration has continued to pay lip service to health challenges in the state including the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to unexplained deaths.

“Kogi State is now ranked among the highest in the demography of states with people living in abject poverty, with the high unemployment rate, infant mortality, low life expectancy, and increased crime rate,” the group stated.

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