N110bn fraud: EFCC slams new charges on Ex-Kogi Governor

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed 16 new corruption charges against Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, and two others, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, before an FCT High Court.

This move follows Bello’s absence from a Federal High Court in Abuja, where he’s being tried for alleged fraud totalling N80.2 billion.

The fresh charges allege that Bello and his co-defendants conspired to commit fraud to the tune of N110,446,470,089.00.

As stated in the charge sheet, “That you, YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometimes in 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdictions of this Honourable Court agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the total sum N110,446,470,089.00 entrusted to you.”

The EFCC counsels, including Kemi Pinheiro and Rotimi Oyedepo, filed the charges on behalf of the Federal Government. This development is the latest in Bello’s ongoing legal battles, with previous allegations of embezzling N80.2 billion during his time as governor.