The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned former governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja.
Bello was declared wanted in April 2024 after failing to honour several invitations for questioning.
The EFCC arrested him in Abuja on Tuesday at about 12:55 p.m.
He is accused of N110 billion fraud before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT High Court.
The matter, heard on November 14 by the court, was adjourned till November 27 when counsel to the EFCC sought an adjournment in the fresh case it instituted against Bello.
The EFCC said the 30-day window given to Bello, which was in line with the laws regarding earlier summons, was still running.
Recall the ex-governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello on Tuesday presented himself again before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to a statement by his media office, Bello went to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja with his lawyers following the Supreme Court judgment which dismissed states’ case on the anti-graft agency’s constitutionality.
The former governor drove himself in a black Hilux to the EFCC office with his lawyers.
He is alleged to have committed fraud of N110 billion between 2016 and 2023.
On November 14, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama extended the time for Bello to respond to the public summons issued against him.
Presiding judge Maryanne Anenih first issued the summons on October 3.
In September, Bello presented himself before the EFCC months after he was declared wanted in April for shunning invitations for questioning and resisting arrest.
Bello was accompanied by his successor Governor Usman Ododo and his security details.
Shortly after news of his arrival at the EFCC broke, both men left the EFCC building.
EFCC’s spokesman Dele Oyewale released a statement, saying Bello was not in their custody and remains wanted. On September 18, EFCC operatives laid siege at Bello’s residence at night and unsuccessfully attempted to arrest him again.
On September 26, the anti-graft agency explained in a statement that Bello was turned back because he came with a governor and a retinue of security details.
According to the EFCC, Bello played up several antics to garner public sympathy and evade due process.
Bello, who is the sole defendant in a 19-count charge at the Federal High Court earlier preferred against him by the EFCC, is to face fresh 16-count charge alongside two officials of Kogi State Government Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha before the FCT High Court.
